Brown Skua
This is the territorial display of a Brown Skua on the Falkland Islands. Brown Skua (Catharacta antarctica) goes by a confusing array of other names; Antarctic, Sub-Antarctic, Southern, Southern Great and Falkland Skua. The nominate subspecies antarctica breeds on the Falkland Islands and possibly on mainland South America. It differs from the Brown Skuas that occur on South Georgia and Antarctica by being a bit smaller but with proportionately shorter legs and a heavier bill. This individual is doing the "long call" display, showing off its wing flashes, which is a display common to all Skuas. I photographed this one on Carcass Island in the Falklands.
Brown Skua
This is the territorial display of a Brown Skua on the Falkland Islands. Brown Skua (Catharacta antarctica) goes by a confusing array of other names; Antarctic, Sub-Antarctic, Southern, Southern Great and Falkland Skua. The nominate subspecies antarctica breeds on the Falkland Islands and possibly on mainland South America. It differs from the Brown Skuas that occur on South Georgia and Antarctica by being a bit smaller but with proportionately shorter legs and a heavier bill. This individual is doing the "long call" display, showing off its wing flashes, which is a display common to all Skuas. I photographed this one on Carcass Island in the Falklands.