Characteristics
 The south polar skua is a stocky gull-like bird that is about 21 inches in length. It has a dull brownish-gray body with white patches on its outer wings. It has a thick neck; a short, broad tail; a thick, hooked, black bill and black legs. Males and females look alike.
Range
The south polar skua breeds in Antarctica. Sometimes younger skua will migrate into the Atlantic and Pacific ocean areas of the Northern Hemisphere during the Southern Hemisphere's winter season.
Habitat
Except during breeding season, the south polar skua lives on the open ocean.
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Diet
The south polar skua eats fish, krill,
squid, carrion, crustaceans, mollusks and the eggs and chicks of seabirds.
It may also follow ships at sea and eat the garbage thrown overboard.
Life Cycle
The female south polar skua lays one or two eggs in a depression in the ground, usually located in a sheltered area like a rocky outcropping or a cliffside. The eggs hatch in about 24-34 days. The south polar skua sometimes nests in colonies.
Behavior
The south polar skua sometimes chases
and harasses other birds to force them to drop their catches.
Image Credits: Clipart.com
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