South Polar Skua

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South Polar Skua in the UK

A very rare vagrant that breeds in Antarctica and migrates into the North Atlantic in the northern summer. It was added to the British List in August 2021, on the strength of an immature at West Bexington, Dorset, from 27 January to 4 February 1996. Two birds from the winter of 2001/02, on Scilly and in Glamorgan, followed. Since July 2023 pelagic trips off the Isles of Scilly have produced a run of accepted records, with others from Cornwall. It remains a national rarity.

Where and when to see a South Polar Skua

Almost every recent record has come from the sea around the Isles of Scilly between July and October, on the evening and all-day pelagic trips that run from St Mary's. A few have been seen from Cornish headlands in the same months, including St Ives and Porthgwarra. From land the species is close to impossible to prove. From a boat, with a bird circling the chum slick, it can be photographed well enough for the rarities committee.

Habitat, diet and field notes

Habitat: Pelagic (very rare).
Diet: Fish, scavenges.
Field note: Subtly different from Great Skua.

How to identify a South Polar Skua

Like a slightly smaller, slimmer Great Skua with a smaller head and finer bill. The plumage is colder: grey-brown without the warm rufous tones and heavy pale streaking of Great Skua, and plainer on the upperwing coverts. Pale birds have a buff-grey head and body that contrast with blackish wings, often with a paler hind neck. Dark birds are harder. Moult helps: in late summer adults and immatures are replacing inner primaries, at a different stage from Great Skuas of the same age.

Call and song

Silent at sea. There is no call that will help with one in British waters, so identification rests on photographs of plumage, structure and moult. Heard something you cannot place? Bird Hear identifies UK birds from a 10 second recording, free in your browser.

Confusion species

• Great Skua: Great Skua is bulkier and warmer brown with rufous tones and bold pale streaks above, and is the default large skua in British waters.
• Pomarine Skua: A dark juvenile Pomarine is smaller with barred underwing coverts and rump and a longer tail with blunt central feathers.

Related guide British seabirds.

Conservation status and Birdedex points

In the Birdedex the South Polar Skua is a Legendary tier bird, worth +50 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

• Arctic SkuaUncommon · Northern moors (summer); sea (passage)
• Great SkuaUncommon · Northern isles (summer)
• Long-tailed SkuaRare · Open sea (autumn passage)
• Pomarine SkuaRare · Open sea (passage)
• Audubon's ShearwaterLegendary · Pelagic (very rare)
• Black-bellied Storm PetrelLegendary · Pelagic (very rare)

South Polar Skua: quick answers

Has a South Polar Skua ever been seen in the UK?

Yes. The first accepted bird spent nine days on a Dorset beach in early 1996, though it took until 2021 for the record to be approved. More have been accepted since, most of them photographed from boats off Scilly in 2023 and 2024.

What is the difference between a South Polar Skua and a Great Skua?

The differences are slight: a colder, greyer and plainer plumage, a lighter build and the timing of wing moult. Most claims from land are never accepted. The identification of the first British bird was supported by DNA.

Where can I see a South Polar Skua in the UK?

Book a summer pelagic from the Isles of Scilly and hope. It is still a major rarity, but the waters south and west of Scilly are the one place in Britain with repeat records. Tracking studies show that some birds from Antarctic colonies do spend the northern summer in the North Atlantic.

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