Catharacta Antarctica Collection

Brown skua (Stercorarius antarcticus), Ronge Island, Antarctica

Sub-Antarctic / Brown skua (Stercorarius antarcticus) flying away with egg stolen from a Royal penguin colony (Eudyptes schlegeli), Macquarie Island, Australian Territory. December

Subantarctic or Brown skua (Stercorarius antarcticus) stealing an egg from a Royal penguin colony (Eudyptes schlegeli) on Macquarie Island, Australian Territory

Falkland Skua chick, Falkland Islands

Falkland skua or brown skua chick. They are the great skua of the southern polar and subpolar region, Falkland Islands

Chick of Falkland Skua or Brown Skua (Stercorarius antarcticus, exact taxonomy is under dispute). They are the great skuas of the southern polar and subpolar region

Southern giant petrel and chick, Antarctic Pen
Southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus) fluffy chick and powerful parent bird, sitting together among coastal rocks

Falkland or Brown Skua or Subanarctic Skua (Stercorarius antarcticus, taxonomy in dispute). South America, Falkland Islands, January

Subantarctic Skua (Stercorarius lonnbergi) adult, in flight low over sea, Cape of Good Hope, Western Cape, South Africa, June

Subantarctic Skua (Stercorarius lonnbergi) adult, in flight over sea, off Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, September

Antarctic Skua (Catharacta antarctica) Pebble Island, off north coast of West Falkland. Falkland Islands. They obtain much of their food by piratical attacks on other seabirds

Brown skuas
Brown skua (Catharacta antarctica), resting. This aggressive bird, also known as the Antarctic skua, reaches 55 centimetres in length. It feeds on the young and eggs of penguins and cormorants

Antarctic skua perched on top of rock. (Catharacta antarctica). Peterman Island, Antarctica
David Day / SplashdownDirect

Antarctic skua on hillside above the sea. (Catharacta antarctica). Carcass Island, Falkland Islands
David Day / SplashdownDirect

Sub-Antarctic Skua (Catharacta antarctica) vie for a fish head on Barrentos Island in the Aitcho Island Group
Michael Nolan / SplashdownDirect

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"Catharacta Antarctica: The Skua's Stealthy Egg Thief" In the Sub-Antarctic region, a Brown skua (Stercorarius antarcticus) takes flight with an egg stolen from a neighboring nest. These cunning birds are notorious for their thieving ways, and this Royal penguin is now left empty-handed. On Ronge Island in Antarctica, a Brown skua snatches an egg from a Falkland Skua chick. These majestic creatures, also known as the great skuas of the southern polar regions, fiercely protect their young but sometimes fall victim to these skilled predators. The exact taxonomy of the Falkland or Brown Skua (Stercorarius antarcticus) remains under dispute. Nevertheless, their reputation as opportunistic thieves persists. Here we see one attempting to snatch an egg from King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus), who gather together to defend themselves against this nearby threat. Even Northern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes moseleyi) are not spared from the watchful eyes of the Brown skua. In this captivating image, a Southern giant petrel and its chick observe as one such skua hovers near them on Antarctic Pen. Taxonomy debates aside, whether it be Falkland or Brown Skuas or even Subantarctic Skuas (Stercorarius lonnbergi), these birds display remarkable agility in flight. This adult Subantarctic Skua is captured gracefully gliding low over the sea at Cape of Good Hope in Western Cape. Not limited to stealing eggs alone, some avian species have developed unique hunting techniques too. A Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) demonstrates its prowess by transferring a Centipede (Scolopendra sp. ) mid-flight—a fascinating sight indeed. Catharacta Antarctica may refer to more than just a company; it represents a captivating world of wildlife interactions.