Pomarine Jaeger
Stercorarius pomarinus
Also known as: Pomarine Skua, Pomathorine Skua, Pomerine Skua
Habitat
Ground
Diet
VertFishScav
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
692 g
About This Species
A powerful seabird that breeds on Arctic tundra and spends the rest of the year at sea, most often observed from headlands during migration or on pelagic trips, where it harasses gulls and terns to steal food. Look for its heavy, direct flight and, in breeding plumage, distinctive twisted central tail feathers. Coastal migration watches in spring and autumn, particularly after onshore winds, offer the best land-based views.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- At sea or from shore, keep enough distance that feeding and chasing behaviour continues undisturbed; there is little practical way to approach this species closely outside a breeding colony.
- Its Arctic breeding grounds are remote and legally protected in the countries that hold them, with disturbance of nesting birds restricted, though enforcement and specific rules vary by country.
- Boats should avoid direct pursuit of an individual bird engaged in kleptoparasitic chases, which are already energetically costly for it.
LCAvesCharadriiformesStercorariidae
Seasonal Activity
179,282 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Stercorariidae
Traits
- Diet
- VertFishScav
- Foraging
- Ground
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 692 g
Photo
(c) Nigel Voaden, some rights reserved (CC BY)
CC-BY-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.