South Polar Skua

Stsrcomrius maccormicki

Beak

—

Feet

—

Crest

No crest

India, Sri Lanka and Maldives. Slightly smaller and slighter than Brown Skua, with finer bill. Pala morph distinctive: pale sandy-brown head and underbody contrasting with dark brown mantle and upperwing- and underwing-coverts. Dark morph lacks heavy pale streaking/mottling of Brown. and usually has pala forehead, dark cap/hHd and paler hind neck; uniform {unbarred) underwing-coverts, axillaries and uppertail- and undertail-coverts are best distinctions from dark juvenile Pomarine Jaeger. Intermediates also occur. Juvenile has pale to mid grey head and underparts, and dark grey upperparts. Coastal waters.