Arctic Skua
Habitat and behaviour
Habitat: Northern moors (summer); sea (passage).
Diet: Fish, parasitism.
Best time to spot: Pirates terns and Kittiwakes.
When to look
Resident in the UK, so it can be found year-round. Numbers peak in May. See the May birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in British seabirds.
Where to see it
Reserves where the Arctic Skua is on the list:
Recent UK sightings
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Similar birds
- Great SkuaUncommon · Northern isles (summer)
- Long-tailed SkuaRare · Open sea (autumn passage)
- Pomarine SkuaRare · Open sea (passage)
- South Polar Skua · Pelagic (very rare)
- WhimbrelUncommon · Northern moors (summer); coast (passage)
- Arctic TernUncommon · Northern coasts (summer)
Kit that helps
Best spotting scopes for UK birding. Affiliate links, tested picks, no extra cost to you.
See Arctic Skua sightings on the map