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

That evening we scanned the cliffs for puffins, Arctic skua, white-tailed eagles and sea eagles that nest and breed in the area.

From The Guardian • Jun. 17, 2020

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

The oil drum she had seen when the skua flew over marked the beginning of civilization and the end of the wilderness.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George