In part
"Chris Gregory" <> asked
Is a Brown Skua another name for Great?
Well yes but not really. Once upon a time, there was just one Great (but
note never 'Giant') Skua that bred in the higher latitudes of both
hemispheres and moved to lower latitudes of the same hemisphere in their
respective winters, and officially, until the outdated Checklist is replaced
in a few months time, that is what you saw! However, many thought the
Antipodean bird was not quite the same as the northern beast so wanted to
give it a different name. So from time to time in Australia ours has been
called Southern, Antarctic, Subantarctic or Brown (as well as in error, some
say, Great) Skua. It seems that Brown is now the favoured moniker some of
the other names being reserved for subspecific use.
This confusion of names once led to a distribution analysis performed by the
Australian Antarctic Division of Skuas observed from their vessels
publishing separate maps for both Great and Southern (= Antarctic =
Subantarctic = Brown) Skua! That should make it clearer.
A rose by any other name smells just as sweet!
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza VIC 3930
Tel (03) 9787 7136
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