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The south polar skua is the greyest of the skua species and has a variety of colour morphs, however there is usually a clear contrast between their lighter nape and their darker back., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

The size difference that often results from asynchronous hatching means that larger chicks are able to attack, and sometimes kill, their younger sibling., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

Skuas, similar to many terrestrial birds of prey, show reversed sexual size dimorphism, where the female is slightly larger than the male. The sexes are otherwise difficult to distinguish., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

The size difference that often results from asynchronous hatching means that larger chicks are able to attack, and sometimes kill, their younger sibling., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

The size difference that often results from asynchronous hatching means that larger chicks are able to attack, and sometimes kill, their younger sibling., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

The size difference that often results from asynchronous hatching means that larger chicks are able to attack, and sometimes kill, their younger sibling., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

The size difference that often results from asynchronous hatching means that larger chicks are able to attack, and sometimes kill, their younger sibling., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

Sibling aggression can result in the weaker chick being deprived of food and starvation is a common cause of death., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

Skuas belong to the family Stercorariidae, they are larger than gulls and have other differences, such as their hooked bill, that reflect their predatory lifestyle., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

The size difference that often results from asynchronous hatching means that larger chicks are able to attack, and sometimes kill, their younger sibling., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

The size difference that often results from asynchronous hatching means that larger chicks are able to attack, and sometimes kill, their younger sibling., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

Skuas are scavengers and will feed opportunistically on a wide variety of prey., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

Adult penguins will vigorously defend their nests from opportunistic attacks by skua, if provoked they are capable of inflicting serious harm on the attacking bird., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

Siblicide can arise becase chicks are competing for the food and protection provided by their parents., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

Research has shown that the increased begging from two skua chicks results in more food being brought to the nest., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

The size difference that often results from asynchronous hatching means that larger chicks are able to attack, and sometimes kill, their younger sibling., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

In South Polar skua adults do not intervene to prevent agression between their offspring., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.

The size difference that often results from asynchronous hatching means that larger chicks are able to attack, and sometimes kill, their younger sibling., Antarctica., Restricted to staff and students of the University of Auckland., SBSAntarctica.