Pomarine Skua
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae Genus: Stercorarius Species: S. pomarinus
Binomial name
Stercorarius pomarinus Temminck,, 1815

The Pomarine Skua, Stercorarius pomarinus, known as Pomarine Jaeger in North America, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. Image File history File links Pomarine Skua; Image from [1]. The image is a post-processed crop of [2], a scan from Naumann, Naturgeschichte der Vögel Mitteleuropas, Vol. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria Placozoa Subregnum Bilateria  Acoelomorpha  Orthonectida  Rhombozoa  Myxozoa  Superphylum Deuterostomia     Chordata (vertebrates, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascideiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Many - see section below. ... Families Thinocoridae Pedionomidae Scolopacidae Rostratulidae Jacanidae Chionididae Burhinidae Haematopodidae Recurvirostridae Ibidorhynchidae Charadriidae Pluvianellidae Dromadidae Glareolidae Stercorariidae Rhynchopidae Laridae Sternidae Alcidae Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. ... Genera Stercorarius Catharacta The skuas are seabirds in the family Stercorariidae. ... Genera Stercorarius Catharacta For other uses: see Skua (disambiguation). ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is a standard convention used for naming species. ... Coenraad Jacob Temminck (March 31, 1778 - January 30, 1858) was a Dutch aristocrat and zoologist. ... World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere, bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west... Seabirds are birds that spend much of their lives, outside the breeding season at least, at sea. ... Genera Stercorarius Catharacta For other uses: see Skua (disambiguation). ...

This is a large skua at about 45cm length, excluding the central tail feathers of the summer adult, which can add another 10cm or so.

This species breeds in the far north of Eurasia and North America. It nests on arctic tundra and islands, laying 2-3 eggs. Like other skuas, it will fly at the head of a human or other intruder approaching its nest. Although it cannot inflict serious damage, it is a frightening and painful experience. African-Eurasian aspect of Earth Eurasia is the landmass composed of the continents of Europe and Asia. ... World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere, bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west... In physical geography, tundra is an area where tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. ...

It is a migrant, wintering at sea in the tropical oceans. // Long-distance land bird migration Many species of land birds migrate very long distances, the most common pattern being for birds to breed in the temperate or arctic northern hemisphere and winter in warmer regions, often in the tropics or the southern hemisphere. ...

This bird will feed on lemmings and other rodents on the breeding grounds, but also robs gulls, terns and even Gannets of their catches; it will also kill birds up to the size of Common Gull. Like most other skua species, it continues this piratical behaviour throughout the year, showing great agility as it harasses its victims. Orders Many - see section below. ... Genera Dicrostonyx Lemmus Synaptomys Myopus  * Incomplete listing: see vole Lemmings are small rodents, usually found in or near the Arctic. ... Genera Pagophila Larus Rissa Creagus Xema Rhodostethia Seagull in flight. ... Genera Sterna (Gelochelidon) (Hydroprogne) (Thalasseus) Chlidonias Phaetusa Anous Procelsterna Gygis Larosterna Terns are seabirds in the family Sternidae, previously considered a subfamily Sterninae of the gull family Laridae. ... Binomial name Morus bassanus Linnaeus, 1758 The Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus or Sula bassana) is a large seabird of the gannet family, Sulidae. ... Binomial name Larus canus Linnaeus, 1758 The Common Gull, Larus canus is a medium-sized gull which breeds across North America (where it is called Mew Gull), Europe and Asia. ... In biology, a species is, loosely speaking, a group of related organisms that share a more or less distinctive form and are capable of interbreeding. ...

Identification of this skua is complicated by its similarities to Arctic Skua and the existence of three colour phases. Pomarine Skuas are larger than Common Gulls. They are much bulkier, broader-winged and less falcon-like than Arctic Skua, but show the same wide range of plumage variation. The flight is more measured than the smaller species. Binomial name Stercorarius parasiticus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Arctic Skua, Stercorarius parasiticus, known as Parasitic Jaeger in North America, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. ... Binomial name Larus canus Linnaeus, 1758 The Common Gull, Larus canus is a medium-sized gull which breeds across North America (where it is called Mew Gull), Europe and Asia. ... Species About 37; see text. ...

Light phase adult Pomarine Skuas have a brown back, mainly white underparts and dark primary wing feathers with a white "flash". The head and neck are yellowish-white with a black cap and there is a long spoon-shaped central tail projection. Dark phase adults are dark brown, and intermediate phase birds are dark with somewhat paler underparts, head and neck. All phases have the white wing flash, which appears as a diagnostic double flash on the underwing.

Juveniles are even more problematic to identify, and are difficult to separate from Arctic Skua over the sea on plumage alone.