BetterBirding
Bird guideSouth Polar Skua

Plumage overall rather plain, dark gray-brown, suggesting a muscular immature gull but with big white wing flashes, like the smaller, more lightly built jaegers.

Spot this speciesRead on Wikipedia
⚠️Not listed

At a glance

FamilySkuas and Jaegers
SizeLarge
RarityUncommon
HabitatRanges across all oceans, mainly from March to October, typically staying offshore and very rarely seen from land.
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from May.

Sounds

Sound sample
0:000:00
Recorded by steve

Range map

Range map

56visible hotspots
222visible records
4states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Often shows a pale blaze across the nape. Some birds have very pale blonde head and body. Breeds in Antarctica, further south than almost any other species of bird. Ranges across all oceans, mainly from March to October, typically staying offshore and very rarely seen from land. Compare with other skua species. In North Atlantic, Great Skua is warmer-toned, has a more capped or hooded appearance, and adults have golden spangles on upperparts. Separation from Brown Skua in Southern Hemisphere is more problematic; there are multiple populations of Brown Skuas and hybrids with South Polar are quite frequent! South Polar averages smaller-billed and slightly less bulky than Brown, and never has bold streaks or spangles on upperparts, but many birds are best left unidentified.

Behavior

Usually seen singly in strong and direct flight, sometimes resting on the ocean with rafts of shearwaters. Chases gulls, large shearwaters, and even boobies, forcing them to regurgitate their food.

Gallery

Regional timing

Victoria
Peak: May41 records
Tasmania
Peak: January12 records
New South Wales
Peak: April40 records
Queensland
Peak: August2 records
South Australia
Peak: April3 records
Western Australia
Peak: April3 records

Commonly confused with

Brown SkuaStercorarius antarcticusIn flight, exhibits a broad white patch on both upperwings and underwings. The dark morph of South Polar Skua has colder tones and a smaller bill, but field separation is difficult.→Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusDifficult to separate from other jaegers, especially Parasitic. Breeding adults have an exceptionally long, pointed tail. Also note uniform brownish back contrasting with dark flight feathers, limited clean black cap, and pale yellow on the side of the neck. Immature birds have an attractive scaly pattern on wings and vary from dark brown to a pale grayish white. At all ages, note buoyant, tern-like flight. Typically shows white shafts only on two outermost wing feathers (fewer than other jaegers). Bill is shorter and proportionally thicker than other jaegers. Jaegers chase other birds and steal their food.→Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusBreeding adults are unique with elongated spoon-shaped central tail feathers. Also note blackish-brown upperparts, messy black cap that extends below the bill, and extensive white flash on upper and underside of outerwing. Rare dark morph adult is entirely blackish-brown but still has white wing flashes. Immature birds are variable, but in general, they are barred with brown above and have bold black-and-white bars on the underwing and undertail coverts. Difficult to separate from other jaegers, especially Parasitic. At all ages, note powerful direct flight and broad wings. Typically shows white shafts on six to eight outer wing feathers (more than other jaegers) and more obvious white flash on underwing. Bill is also thicker than other jaegers. All jaegers chase other birds and steal their food.→
© BetterBirdingAustralian bird pages, free in the app, with every feature unlocked.Privacy