A circumpolar species in subantarctic regions, breeding on many islands and the Antarctic Peninsular, as far north as Tristan da Cunha.
Some populations are sedentary, others highly migratory, and birds have reached the North Atlantic. However, the taxonomy is far from settled, at one time South Polar Skua was included and
the species was known as Antarctic Skua. These birds are of the widespread lonnbergi race, but there are two further subspecies which are covered next, and Peter Harrison has suggested that birds on Chatham Island, which show morphological differences,
should be described as a fourth (sub)species. It seems that the subspecies do not interbreed, but there are cases of hybridisation with other Stercorarius skuas. These birds are of the
widespread lonnbergi race.
Taken New Zealand Subantarctic Nov. 2003
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