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Story: Gulls, terns and skuas

Subantarctic skua adults and chick

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Subantarctic skua adults and chick

Subantarctic skua chicks have to beg aggressively to be fed by their parents, and a quieter sibling may be quickly outgrown by its better-fed rival. Adults are territorial, sending off intruders with vicious swooping attacks.

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10029520

by Peter J. McClelland

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

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How to cite this page

Gerard Hutching, Gulls, terns and skuas – Skuas, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/8929/subantarctic-skua-adults-and-chick (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 2 March 2009.