Many birdwatchers might by no means have noticeable a skua; those that have will such a lot most likely have vibrant thoughts of 1 or different species flying powerfully prior a headland, or twisting and diving in pursuit of its piratical intentions in the direction of a food-laden seabird - or, maybe extra memorably nonetheless, of themselves taking evasive motion from the power-diving irate skua whose territory they've got unwisely invaded. the whole category of the skuas remains to be debated, yet Dr Furness of the utilized Ornithology Unit, Glasgow collage, favours six species, of genera, with 5 subspecies, in response to present wisdom and his personal lengthy and committed box reports and study. the entire species are taken care of relatively lower than the next bankruptcy titles: Early background and type, Distributions and populations, Migration styles, Reversed sexual dimension dimorphism, Behaviour, nutrients and feeding, Kleptoparasitism, Plumage polymorphism, Breeding structures and social corporation, Breeding - laying to hatching, Breeding - hatching to fledging, inhabitants dynamics, pollution, Skuas and agriculture, Skuas and conservation. The textual content is supported through a hundred maps and diagrams, 30 images and sixty five tables. furthermore, John Busby contributes 35 evocative drawings which greater than enhance this erudite and readable precis of a powerful and numerous crew of birds. Jacket work by way of John Busby