Págalo Grande
South Polar Skua
Catharacta maccormicki
Song
South Polar Skua
The South Polar Skua (Catharacta maccormicki) typically nests in rocky and barren areas within Antarctica and the subantarctic islands. They prefer to make their nests on flat or gently sloping ground, often located near the coastline. These nesting sites provide the skuas with access to both marine and terrestrial food sources crucial for their survival and breeding success.
South Polar Skuas construct their nests using pebbles, moss, lichens, and other available materials found in their nesting environment. These nests are typically shallow scrapes in the ground lined with some vegetation or small rocks. The skuas are known for their territorial behavior around their nesting sites, defending them aggressively against intruders, including other skuas or seabirds.
During the breeding season, South Polar Skuas engage in courtship displays, vocalizations, and territorial defense to establish and maintain their breeding territories. They typically lay one or two eggs, and both parents take turns incubating the eggs and caring for the young once they hatch. The chicks are fed a diet of fish, marine invertebrates, and carrion brought by the parents.
After the breeding season, South Polar Skuas migrate to open ocean areas, particularly the Southern Ocean and surrounding waters, where they spend the non-breeding period foraging for food. Their ability to cover long distances during migration makes them highly adapted to life in the remote and often harsh environments of the southern polar regions.
South Polar Skuas are not regularly found in Colombia. These seabirds are typically associated with the Southern Ocean and the fringes of Antarctica, where they breed and forage during the non-breeding season. Their range extends primarily in the southern polar regions, and their migration patterns involve traveling long distances within the Southern Hemisphere.Migration routes of South Polar Skuas would typically take them across the southern oceans, from Antarctica to other subantarctic islands or regions that offer suitable foraging grounds. The Southern Ocean provides abundant food sources for these skuas, including fish, marine invertebrates, and carrion.While individual South Polar Skuas may disperse over large distances during their migrations, it is unlikely that they would regularly migrate as far north as Colombia, which is located in a tropical region in South America.
Distribution
Coastal areas, wetlands, forests, and mountainous regions in Colombia support a diverse range of avian biodiversity, including resident species as well as migratory birds that visit the country seasonally.
Taxonomy
The South Polar Skua (Catharacta maccormicki)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Charadriiformes
- Family: Stercorariidae
- Genus: Catharacta
- Species: Catharacta maccormicki
Vocalization
Calls: South Polar Skuas produce a variety of calls, including harsh and guttural sounds that are used for communication between individuals, especially during territorial interactions, mating rituals, and in defense of their nests. These calls can vary in intensity and pitch depending on the context.
Alarm Calls: Skuas often emit alarm calls when potential threats or predators approach their nesting sites or territories. These alarm calls can alert other skuas in the vicinity and may serve to deter intruders or warn of impending danger.
Courtship Calls: During the breeding season, South Polar Skuas engage in courtship displays that involve vocalizations. These calls are part of their courtship rituals and can include soft, trilling sounds that play a role in pair bonding and mate selection.
Aggressive Calls: When defending their nests or food sources, South Polar Skuas may emit aggressive calls that are intended to intimidate rivals or deter competition. These calls can be loud and confrontational, signaling dominance and territorial boundaries.
Flight Calls: Skuas may also vocalize while in flight, using calls to communicate with other skuas or to coordinate group movements while foraging or hunting over the ocean.
