skua

American  

[skyoo-uh] / ˈskju 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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

skua

The new entries include the Arctic tern, known for its incredible migration, the giant skua, or pirate of the sea, and two types of gull.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2024

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

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

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

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