Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | CoL | ITIS | WoRMS

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Pelagic. Polar

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Indo-Pacific, Southwest Atlantic and Antarctic Atlantic. Subtropical to polar.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm Max length : 53.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 8812); max. published weight: 1.3 kg (Ref. 356)

Short description Morphology

Wing: 39.55 cm.

Wingspan: 127 cm (Ref. 8812). A pelagic, long-lived seabird. Breeds mainly along the coast and associated islands in the Antarctic continent, possibly extending inland in the South Shetland and South Orkney Islands; possibly the southernmost breeding bird in the world, recorded at Amundsen-Scott Station at the South Pole. In some localities, may be found nesting in sympatry with Brown Skuas (Stercorarius antarcticus) and notably feed exclusively at sea while Brown Skuas feed on land (Ref. 95073). However, where there is allopatric nesting, it forages both at sea and terrestrially, mainly on penguin eggs and chicks (Ref. 95081). Exhibits a variety of foraging tactics but feeds mainly on penguins and pelagic fish. First breeding at 7 to 9 years of age. Breeding pairs nest in areas without snow and ice; typically lays two eggs. Size of breeding colonies vary; the largest colony at Cape Crozier, Ross Island, with ca.1000 breeding pairs. At Cape Crozier, breeding span recorded at almost 16 years. Monogamous for multiple seasons and with high site-fidelity. Generally breed in association with Adelie Penguins and may be the only avian predator bearing a major impact on populations of breeding seabirds in the Antarctic (Ref. 95073).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Harrison, P. 1983. (Ref. 8812)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 07 August 2018

CITES status (Ref. 108899)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Human uses

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Tools

E-book | Field guide

More information

Countries
FAO areas
Ecosystems
Occurrences
Introductions
Stocks
Ecology
Diet
Food items

Common names
Synonyms
Predators
Reproduction
Maturity
Spawning
Fecundity
Eggs
Egg development

Age/Size
Growth
Length-weight
Length-length
Morphology
Larvae
Abundance

References
Mass conversion

Collaborators
Pictures

Internet sources

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 0.2 - 18.2, mean 6.4 (based on 1318 cells).

Resilience (Ref. 69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=10.07-40.21).

Vulnerability (Ref. 71543): Moderate vulnerability (41 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Stercorarius maccormicki Saunders, 1893