Chilean skua
| Chilean skua | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Stercorariidae |
| Genus: | Stercorarius |
| Species: | S. chilensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Stercorarius chilensis (Bonaparte, 1857) | |
The Chilean skua (Stercorarius chilensis) is a large predatory seabird, which breeds in Argentina and Chile, but ranges as far north as Brazil and Peru when not breeding. A relatively distinctive skua, it has a dark cap that contrasts with its cinnamon throat and lower face. Hybrids with the brown skua are known from southern Argentina.
While nowhere near the size of birds such as the wandering albatross, the Chilean skua makes up for it in sheer aggression towards other birds.
Chilean skuas feed on fish and other seabirds, as well as scraps, and carrion.
References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Stercorarius chilensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.