Side view of Skua, Paradise Bay, Antarctica - stock photo

Large, heavily built birds, skuas are closely related to members of the gull family. In appearance, skuas look like immature gulls, although heavier, more robust and menacing in mien. They have conspicuous white patches at the base of their flying feathers, wedge-shaped tails, and a black, short heavy bill. Their flight is heavy, with relatively little gliding and much flapping. They are very intelligent predators, feeding mostly on marine life and penguin eggs and chicks. The estimated life spans of the Antarctic skuas is approximately 11 years.