Elsevier

Animal Behaviour

Volume 26, Part 4, November 1978, Pages 1167-1177
Animal Behaviour

Kleptoparasitism by great skuas (Catharacta skua Brünn.) and Arctic skuas (Stercorarius parasiticus L.) at a Shetland seabird colony

https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-3472(78)90107-0Get rights and content

Abstract

Quantitative study of 467 great skua and 275 Arctic skua chases of seabirds at Foula, Shetland showed differences in the preferred victims and rates of success of each skua species. Spatial segregation of preferred victims reduces the possibility of interspecific competition. Several factors influence the outcome of chases; particularly important are the duration of chase, the speed of reaction of the victim and the method of evasion employed. These in turn are strongly influenced by local visibility and the height of the victim above the sea at the start of the chase. Variations in the success rates of chases between colonies are explained in terms of these relationships.

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There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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Present address: Culterty Field Station, University of Aberdeen, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

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