The great skua (Stercorarius skua), sometimes known by the name bonxie in Britain, is a large seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is roughly the size of a herring gull. It mainly eats fish caught at the sea surface or taken from other birds.

Jan 3, 2011 · Unprovoked attack by a Bonxie or Great Skua taken with a wide angle lens

Jul 13, 2020 · On our way down last night we had a few attacks from Bonxies (great skuars)! If I'm honest they are nothing compared to the attacks from Tirricks( Artic Turns)! Tirricks come in numbers and give you no chance of safe passage if passing through or near a nesting ground!

Atlantic and Great Skuas, St Kilda July 2018Visit https://www.porty.net/st-kilda

Jul 12, 2023 · A common technique is to fly up to a gannet in mid-air and grab it by the wing, so that it stalls and falls into the sea, where the Great Skua then physically attacks it until it surrenders its catch. It also eats offal (= entrails and internal organs of butchered animals), eggs, berries and carrion. Breeding

They are aerial apex predators and are aggressive pirates of the seas. They usually feed by day and often obtain fish by robbing gulls, terns, and even northern gannets of their catches. They will also directly attack and kill other seabirds, up to the size of Herring gulls.

Most bird lovers will have heard of the way in which great skuas (or bonxies as they are known in Shetland) go about their business. A pair of great skuas on top of a Scottish coastal cliff. Getty …

In this deep dive, we take a look at all seven species of sea hawks. Known as “ Bonxie ” in Britain, the great skua has rich brown, streaked plumage with pale flecks and white primary feathers visible in flight. It is a heavy-set bird with a barrel chest, a large black bill, and a short, blunt tail.

Aug 6, 2021 · The Bonxie or Great Skua. Its name Skua in Norse means “dumpy” but its strong well built and powerful frame is balanced by its long wings and murderous bill. It is an efficient killing machine and that is surely what it does.

If an intruder attempts to enter the breeding colony, great skuas will resort to physical attacks and sometimes lengthy fights. They typically win these aggressive encounters due to their relatively large size.