skua

American  

[skyoo-uh] / ˈskyu ə /

noun

1. Also called bonxie.  any of several large brown gull-like predatory birds of the genus Catharacta, related to jaegers, especially C. skua great skua, of colder waters of both northern and southern seas.

2. British. jaeger.

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skua British  

/ ˈskjuːə /

noun

1. any predatory gull-like bird of the family Stercorariidae, such as the great skua or bonxie ( Stercorarius skua ) or arctic skua ( S. parasiticus ) both of which harass terns or gulls into dropping or disgorging fish they have caught

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Etymology

Origin of skua

1670–80; < Faeroese skū ( g ) vur; cognate with Old Norse skūfr tassel, tuft, also skua (in poetry), akin to shove ¹

Example Sentences

In October a report by the British Antarctic Survey confirmed the avian flu's existence near Antarctica on Bird Island in the South Georgia region, particularly afflicting a species of bird known as the brown skua.

From Salon • Dec. 10, 2023

NatureScot said great skua and gannets have been hardest hit by outbreaks this year.

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2022

If you fail to catch a skua during your first approach, he says, it will never let you get close again.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 13, 2018

Several migratory birds, including the Arctic tern and skua are thought to be the most likely culprits for delivering the viruses to Antarctica.

From The Guardian • Sep. 20, 2016

In addition to puffins and gulls and terns, there was another type of bird, called a skua.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown