Skuas are predatory seabirds belonging to the genus Stercorarius, which includes seven species and is the only genus in the family Stercorariidae. In North America, the smaller skuas—Arctic skua, long-tailed skua, and pomarine skua—are called jaegers. The name Stercorarius comes from Latin, meaning “of dung,” reflecting the earlier belief that food regurgitated by other birds while being pursued by skuas was excrement.
Skuas nest on the ground in temperate, Antarctic, and Arctic regions and are known for long migrations, with sightings as far south as the South Pole. Outside of breeding season, they primarily eat fish, offal, and carrion, engaging in kleptoparasitisl; stealing catches from other seabirds, regardless of their size. Larger species, like the great skua, can kill and eat adult seabirds, including puffins and gulls.
