Gould remarked 'not always industrious enough to fish for itself, the Long-tailed Skua gives chase to Gulls, Terns or any other bird...these it buffets and persecutes until...they disgorge the contents of their stomach, which is immediately and adroitly seized...'

An adult bird is depicted in summer plumage in front of a juvenile bird.

DISTRIBUTION: Breeding distribution circumpolar in Arctic south to southern Norway. Winters at sea south of the equator. Regular visitor to Britain between May and November, with an annual May passage past the Hebrides. In Britain not now considered to be a rarity