Help with id on Skua seen in Hauraki Gulf today

erikforsyth · Post by **erikforsyth** » Sat Oct 07, 2023 5:30 pm

Hi all,a few grainy pics of a large, bulky skua see in Hauraki Gulf today. Any opinions welcome.

thanks
Erik

erikforsyth · Post by **erikforsyth** » Sat Oct 07, 2023 5:31 pm

Apologies, don't know why they are upside down!

erikforsyth · Post by **erikforsyth** » Sat Oct 07, 2023 5:32 pm

a few more on the skua

erikforsyth · Post by **erikforsyth** » Sat Oct 07, 2023 5:36 pm

Hi Admin, i wld be grateful if you cld turn correct way?

Michael Szabo · Post by **Michael Szabo** » Sat Oct 07, 2023 5:45 pm

They can all be viewed better in your eBird checklist here:
https://ebird.org/newzealand/checklist/S151587381

erikforsyth · Post by **erikforsyth** » Sat Oct 07, 2023 5:47 pm

thanks Michael, that's a big improvement.

Michael Szabo · Post by **Michael Szabo** » Sat Oct 07, 2023 6:36 pm

Here's a shot of a pale morph South Polar Skua for comparison that I took back in April in the Coral Sea.

Post by **Davidthomas** » Sat Oct 07, 2023 6:56 pm

My impression is brown skua just from the warm tones to the plumage.

Steve Wood · Post by **Steve Wood** » Sun Oct 08, 2023 7:44 am

I will go with the other option - South Polar. Intermediate morph with paler hindneck.

Michael Szabo · Post by **Michael Szabo** » Sun Oct 08, 2023 9:05 am

Yes, I agree that it has a pale hind-neck and the profile, overall size and the bill all look better for South Polar Skua (a.k.a. Solar Skua).