List of Birds of Tasmania - Skuas

Skuas

Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Stercorariidae

The skuas are in general medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with a hooked tip, and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic fliers. A single species is regularly found in Tasmanian waters, while two others are vagrants.

  • Arctic Skua, Stercorarius parasiticus
  • Long-tailed Skua, Stercorarius longicauda (V)
  • South Polar Skua, Catharacta maccormicki (V)

Read more about this topic:  List Of Birds Of Tasmania