Scientific name: Stercorarius skua Brunnich, 1764
Bird group: Skuas
Field characters. 58 cm. Largest skua. Looks like an all dark stocky gull. Completely dark brown with large white patches on primaries, visible on upper- and underwing. Looks almost black at a distance, but at close quarters streaks and spots are visible. Has broad wings and a heavy chest. Unlike other skuas, no elongated tail feathers. Juvenile difficult to separate, has unstreaked orange-toned underparts and less streaked upperparts. Normal flight gull-like, looks somewhat careless. When chasing other birds, flight becomes very fast and falcon-like. Chases other seabirds up to the size of Northern Gannet. Usually seen in singles or two's.
Voice. Mainly silent at sea, but sometimes utters a guttural 'tuc tuc' when chasing birds. On breeding places has a variety of other calls, including a nasal 'skeeer' and a low 'uk uk'.
Distribution. Common; locally increasing .
Habitat. Breeds on open coastal grassland. Outside breeding season at sea.
Food. Chases other seabirds for food (fish, squid, crustaceans), but also fishes itself. Commonly takes offal and kills other birds, up to its own size.