Arctic Skua May 2026

The ( Stercorarius parasiticus ), also known as the Parasitic Jaeger , is the high-seas' most notorious bandit. While most seabirds spend their days diving into icy waters to hunt, the Arctic Skua prefers a more "efficient" method: kleptoparasitism . It waits for other birds like puffins, terns, or kittiwakes to catch a fish, then launches into a high-speed, acrobatic pursuit until the victim is forced to drop or regurgitate its meal—which the skua then catches mid-air with stunning precision. The Phantom of the North These birds are masters of disguise and survival: