The brown skua, also known as the Antarctic skua, Subantarctic skua, southern great skua, southern skua, or hākoakoa (Māori), is a large seabird that breeds in the subantarctic and Antarctic zones and moves farther north when not breeding. Its taxonomy is highly complex and a matter of dispute, with some splitting it into two or three species: Falkland skua, Tristan skua, and subantarctic skua. To further confuse, it hybridizes with both the south polar and Chilean skuas, and the entire group has been considered to be a subspecies of the great skua, a species otherwise restricted to the Northern Hemisphere.
Region
Southern Ocean and Subantarctic Islands
Typical Environment
Breeds on subantarctic and Antarctic islands, including the Falklands, South Georgia, Kerguelen, Crozet, Prince Edward and Marion, Tristan da Cunha, and nearby archipelagos. Outside the breeding season it disperses northward over the South Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. It favors remote coastal headlands, tundra-like open ground, and beaches for nesting and loafing. At sea it is pelagic, ranging widely over cold and cool-temperate waters and often following ships.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 800 m
Climate Zone
Polar
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Brown skuas are formidable seabirds known for kleptoparasitism—harassing other seabirds to steal their catch—and for preying on eggs and chicks of penguins and petrels. Their taxonomy is complex, with some authorities splitting the group into multiple species and noting hybridization with south polar and Chilean skuas. They are famously bold and aggressive near nesting sites, readily attacking intruders, including humans. Outside the breeding season, they roam widely across the Southern Ocean.
Brown skua eyeing a king penguin carcass
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
powerful flier with steady wingbeats and low, direct passes; capable of dynamic soaring over seas
Social Behavior
Typically breeds in widely spaced, strongly territorial pairs that defend ground nests vigorously. Nests are shallow scrapes on open terrain with sparse vegetation. Pairs are generally monogamous and may reuse territories across years. Outside breeding, individuals are more tolerant but seldom form dense flocks.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations are harsh, rasping calls, barks, and yelps, especially during territorial disputes. Alarm calls escalate into loud, scolding cries when intruders approach the nest. At sea, they are mostly silent.
