Great skuas are large seabirds, about the same size as herring gulls. They are pirates of the sea: chasing other seabirds, such as gannets and gulls, and stealing the fish they have caught. They also eat smaller birds, such as puffins, and are known to be very aggressive at their breeding grounds - dive-bombing anyone who gets close to their nests. Great skuas winter off the Spanish and African Atlantic coasts.
How to identify
The great skua is our largest skua. It is dark brown, with streaks of gold, and a dark cap and thick bill. It shows broad flashes of white on its wings when it flies.
Did you know?
The great skua is also known as the 'bonxie'. This local name was probably derived from an old Norse word meaning 'dumpy' and referred to the shape and size of the bird.
