Pomarine Skua

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Pomarine Skua in the UK

A passage migrant that breeds on Arctic tundra in Russia, Alaska and Canada and winters at sea in tropical oceans. It passes Britain in spring, mainly in May, and in far larger numbers in autumn, from August to November. Adults move south earlier than juveniles. Autumn totals vary from year to year, with more young birds after good breeding seasons in the north. A few are seen in winter. It has never bred in Britain. Green listed.

Where and when to see a Pomarine Skua

Spring passage is narrow and brief. In the first half of May flocks of adults pass the Outer Hebrides, best seen from Aird an Runair on North Uist in north-westerly winds. Others move up the English Channel past Dungeness, Selsey Bill and Portland in south-easterlies, and through the Solway. In autumn watch North Sea headlands such as Flamborough Head during strong northerlies. West coast seawatches in the south-west also score. Mornings are best, with a telescope.

Habitat, diet and field notes

Habitat: Open sea (passage).
Diet: Fish, kleptoparasitism.
Field note: Spoon-tipped tail in adult.

How to identify a Pomarine Skua

The second largest skua here: bulkier than an Arctic Skua, with a deep chest, broad wings and a heavy bill that is pale at the base. Flight is steady and gull-like, less dashing than Arctic. Spring adults carry long, twisted, spoon-shaped central tail feathers. Pale adults have a black cap, yellowish cheeks, a dark breast band and barred flanks. Juveniles are dark brown and heavily barred on the rump and underwing, with a second pale crescent at the base of the primaries below.

Call and song

Silent at sea, which is where British birds are seen. Calls are given only on the breeding grounds and occasionally during chases. Heard something you cannot place? Bird Hear identifies UK birds from a 10 second recording, free in your browser.

Confusion species

• Arctic Skua: Arctic Skua is slimmer and narrower-winged with a falcon-like dash, pointed tail feathers in adults and a single pale flash on the underwing in juveniles.
• Great Skua: Great Skua is bigger still, short-tailed and barrel-shaped, with much larger white wing flashes above and below.
• Long-tailed Skua: Long-tailed Skua is small and tern-like with a light, buoyant flight and colder grey tones in juveniles.

Month by month

Numbers peak in May. See the May birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in British seabirds.

Taller bars mean more birds about. Grey means it is usually absent.

Conservation status and Birdedex points

In the Birdedex the Pomarine Skua is a Rare tier bird, worth +8 points when you log one. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Long-tailed SkuaRare · Open sea (autumn passage)
• Arctic SkuaUncommon · Northern moors (summer); sea (passage)
• Great SkuaUncommon · Northern isles (summer)
• South Polar SkuaLegendary · Pelagic (very rare)
• Black KiteRare · Open country (passage)
• Eurasian WryneckRare · Open woodland (passage)

Pomarine Skua: quick answers

Where can I see a Pomarine Skua in the UK?

From a seawatching point with the right wind. North Uist and the Channel coast in early May, or the east coast from Northumberland to Norfolk in autumn. Now and then a tired juvenile lingers in a harbour or on a beach after gales, which gives much closer views.

When is the best time to see Pomarine Skua?

For adults with full tail spoons, the first two weeks of May. For numbers, September to early November, when northerly gales push birds close to North Sea coasts. Late autumn is when juveniles dominate.

What does a Pomarine Skua eat?

On the tundra it is a lemming specialist and may not breed at all in poor lemming years. At sea it catches fish, scavenges and robs gulls, terns and other seabirds of their food. It will also kill small seabirds.

Kit that helps

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