Pomarine jaeger

The pomarine jaeger, pomarine skua, or pomatorhine skua, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is a migrant, wintering at sea in the tropical oceans.

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Distribution

Region

Circumpolar Arctic and worldwide oceans

Typical Environment

Breeds across the high Arctic tundra of North America, Europe, and Asia, typically near wetlands and coastal lowlands. During migration it moves along coasts and major oceanic flyways and may appear on large inland lakes. In winter it is highly pelagic over tropical to subtropical oceans, often far from land. It frequents productive upwelling zones and follows fishing vessels for discards.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 500 m

Climate Zone

Other

Characteristics

Size48–63 cm

Wing Span120–140 cm

Male Weight0.85 kg

Female Weight0.95 kg

Life Expectancy16 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The Pomarine Jaeger is the largest of the three jaegers and is notorious for kleptoparasitism—harassing gulls and terns to steal their catch. Breeding adults show distinctive twisted, spoon-shaped central tail feathers and a creamy-yellow neck wash. Breeding success often tracks lemming cycles on the Arctic tundra. At sea it ranges widely and can be seen far offshore during migration and winter.

Gallery

This is a large skua at about 45cm length, excluding the central tail feathers of the summer adult, which can add another 10cm or so.

Stercorarius pomarinus - MHNT

Behaviour

Temperament

aggressive and opportunistic

Flight Pattern

powerful flier with steady, purposeful wingbeats and agile harrying chases; capable of dynamic soaring over the sea

Social Behavior

Breeds on the ground on Arctic tundra, typically in dispersed pairs or loose colonies. Both parents incubate and defend the nest vigorously. Clutch size is usually two eggs, and breeding effort varies with lemming abundance.

Migratory Pattern

Seasonal migrant

Song Description

Generally quiet at sea, but near breeding sites gives harsh, nasal yelps and cackling calls. Alarm calls are loud and scolding during territorial defense. Vocalizations are functional rather than musical.

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Identification

Leg Colorblackish-grey

Eye Colordark brown

Plumage

Variable, with light and dark morphs; robust, barrel-chested skua with broad wings and blunt-tipped, spoon-shaped extended central tail feathers in breeding adults. Light morph breeders show a creamy-yellow neck and dark cap; dark morphs are mostly sooty-brown with contrasting white flashes in the primaries.

Feeding Habits

Diet

A versatile predator and kleptoparasite, it often steals fish from gulls and terns. On breeding grounds it takes small mammals—especially lemmings—along with birds’ eggs, chicks, and invertebrates. At sea it consumes fish, squid, carrion, and fishery offal.

Preferred Environment

Feeds over open ocean, around upwelling zones, and near fishing fleets where discards are available. On tundra it hunts over open ground and wetland margins where lemmings and nesting birds are abundant.

Population

Total Known Populationunknown

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