skua

Everyday

A large brown seabird of cold northern and southern seas that often chases other seabirds to make them drop or bring up their food, and attacks people who come near its nest. tree →

In the lessons

In science and nature lessons about seabirds and Antarctica, skuas show a «pirate» way of feeding called kleptoparasitism (stealing food). Visitors to Scottish islands such as Shetland are warned that great skuas, called «bonxies» locally, dive at people near their nests.

Examples

• A skua chased the puffin until it dropped its fish. tree →
• Great skuas live on the islands of Shetland. tree →
• The skua swooped at our heads because we were near its nest. tree →
• In Antarctica, skuas steal penguin eggs. tree →
• Skuas are called the pirates of the sea. tree →
• The skua is brown and about the size of a big gull. tree →

Note

Countable: skua, skuas. Say «SKYOO-uh». Local Scottish name for the great skua: «bonxie».