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Skuas (and jaegers) are a fascinating and popular group of seabirds that make up a subfamily of just seven species.The individual plumage variation in some species is enormous, creating one of the most fascinating challenges in modern field identification. This is the first complete identification guide to the skuas of the world. It is designed to enable species identification and correct aging, and the information presented is based on years of study in the field, detailed examination of photographs and museum skins, and extensive research of the relevant literature.The comprehensive text is accompanied by twelve exquisite color plates by Hans Larsson, illustrating a wide range of plumages. In addition, there are eight pages of color photographs and numerous black and white photographs and drawings that show key identification features. With this book, the seabird enthusiast should at last be able to identify almost every skua encountered, whether on shore or at sea.

Many birdwatchers may never have seen a skua; those who have will most probably have vivid memories of one or other species flying powerfully past a headland or twisting and diving in pursuit of its piratical intentions towards a food-laden seabird - or, perhaps more memorably still, of themselves taking evasive action from the power-diving irate skua whose territory they have unwisely invaded.The full classification of the skuas is still debated, but Dr. Furness of the Applied Ornithology Unit, Glasgow University, favours six species, of two genera, with five subspecies, based on current knowledge and his own long and dedicated field studies and research.All of the species treated comparatively under the following chapter titles: Early history and classification, Distributions and populations, Migration patterns, Reversed sexual size dimorphism, Behaviour, Food and feeding, Kleptoparasitsm, Plumage polymorphism, Breeding systems and social organisation, Breeding - laying to hatching, Breeding - hatching to fledging, Populations dymanics, Pollutants, Skuas and agriculture, Skuas and conservation.The text is supported by 100 maps and diagrams, 30 photographs and 65 tables. In addition, John Busby contributes 35 evocative drawings which more than embellish this erudite and readable summary of an impressive and diverse group of birds.

Many birdwatchers may never have seen a skua; those who have will most probably have vivid memories of one or other species flying powerfully past a headland or twisting and diving in pursuit of its piratical intentions towards a food-laden seabird - or, perhaps more memorably still, of themselves taking evasive action from the power-diving irate skua whose territory they have unwisely invaded.The full classification of the skuas is still debated, but Dr. Furness of the Applied Ornithology Unit, Glasgow University, favours six species, of two genera, with five subspecies, based on current knowledge and his own long and dedicated field studies and research.All of the species treated comparatively under the following chapter titles: Early history and classification, Distributions and populations, Migration patterns, Reversed sexual size dimorphism, Behaviour, Food and feeding, Kleptoparasitsm, Plumage polymorphism, Breeding systems and social organisation, Breeding - laying to hatching, Breeding - hatching to fledging, Populations dymanics, Pollutants, Skuas and agriculture, Skuas and conservation.The text is supported by 100 maps and diagrams, 30 photographs and 65 tables. In addition, John Busby contributes 35 evocative drawings which more than embellish this erudite and readable summary of an impressive and diverse group of birds.

Skuas (and jaegers) are a fascinating and popular group of seabirds that make up a subfamily of just seven species.The individual plumage variation in some species is enormous, creating one of the most fascinating challenges in modern field identification. This is the first complete identification guide to the skuas of the world. It is designed to enable species identification and correct aging, and the information presented is based on years of study in the field, detailed examination of photographs and museum skins, and extensive research of the relevant literature.The comprehensive text is accompanied by twelve exquisite color plates by Hans Larsson, illustrating a wide range of plumages. In addition, there are eight pages of color photographs and numerous black and white photographs and drawings that show key identification features. With this book, the seabird enthusiast should at last be able to identify almost every skua encountered, whether on shore or at sea.

The Blackburn Skua was the first monoplane to be designed and built for the Royal Navy in the 1930s. As a result of continued debate, it became a compromise between the Navy’s desire for a carrier-based dive-bomber and RAF’s preference for a fighter. Despite being the first to shoot down a Luftwaffe aircraft in World War II, early operations in Norway found the type woefully inadequate as a fighter.As a dive-bomber, the Royal Navy put the design to good use from the outset of WWII. It was involved with the hunt for the Graff Spee, sunk the major warship Koln, suffered with great loss in an attack on the Scharnhorst, helped to keep the German advance at bay during the Dunkirk evacuation and attacked the French rogue battleship Richelieu in the Mediterranean.This book relates how the final design was created, how the dive-bombing technique was developed and perfected by naval pilots and traces the wartime operational career of the type with many first-hand accounts.

Skuas (and jaegers) are a fascinating and ­popular group of seabirds that make up a subfamily of just seven species. They can be ­divided into two main groups: the larger species of Catharacta skuas which are mainly found in the southern hemisphere (with Great Skua breeding­ in the north), and the three Stercorarius species (also known as jaegers) which breed in the ­northern hemisphere. Both northern and southern skuas breed at high latitudes and several ­species are long-distance migrants, ­performing spectacular migrations through most of the world's oceans, ­sometimes even flying overland. The individual plumage variation in some species is enormous, creating one of the most puzzling yet fascinating challenges in modern field identification. This is the first complete identification guide to the skuas of the world. It is designed to enable species ­identification and correct ­ageing, and the information presented is based on years of study in the field, detailed examination of photographs and ­museum skins, and ­extensive research of the ­relevant literature. The comprehensive text is accompanied by twelve exquisite colour plates by Hans Larsson, illustrating a wide range of plumages. In ­addition, there are eight pages of colour ­photographs and numerous black and white photographs and drawings that show key ­identification ­features. With this book, the seabird enthusiast­ should at last be able to ­identify almost every skua encountered, whether on a seawatch or at sea.

The development and operational history of the Skua, and its turret-fighter derivative the Roc, are told in this book. Designed as a dive-bomber, a role it excelled in, the Skua was also used (with much less success) as a fighter, and later as a target tug. The Roc, naval equivalent of the Defiant, was even less successful than its RAF counterpart.The book contains: superb color illustrations of camouflage and markings, rare b/w archive photographs, and first hand accounts of Skua operations. Essential reading for aviation enthusiasts, historians & scale aeromodellers.

806 Squadron was formed in early 1940 and was equipped with Skuas and Rocs, both outdated as fighters and dive-bombers, the latter hampered by a gunner’s turret and most unsuited for modern warfare; however, 806 was fortunate to have at its head the volatile but skillful and aggressive Lt-Cdr Charles Evans, a 30-year-old born-leader with ten years’ experience flying with both the RAF and Royal Navy.With the aid of his equally experienced senior observer, Lt Desmond Vincent-Jones, the young fledgling pilots, mainly straight from training school, were soon receiving expert instruction. Having survived early ops over Norway and Dunkirk, 806 was selected to fly the new fleet-fighter, the underrated Fulmar, with which it went to war in the Mediterranean aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and won its spurs. The young pilots, led by the CO, wreaked havoc amongst the Italian navy’s spotter seaplanes and bombers. This is their story.

Bird photographer extraordinaire Markus Varesvuo presents perhaps his finest ever collection of images in this remarkable volume.From piratical skuas in Shetland to dancing cranes in Japan, each photograph is technically outstanding, while Markus also imparts evocative stories of encounters with his subjects, enabling the reader to comprehend fully each moment captured on camera.

Ethan Fortune was simple salesman -- knowledgeable and civilized . . . a sophisticated traveler between many worlds. But he had certainly never thought of himself as a hero.Skua September, on the other hand, never thought of himself as anything else.A matched pair, if ever there was one!When the two of them were suddenly stranded on a deadly frozen world, Ethan Fortune incredibly found himself cast in the role of Leader.And he didn't find that at all amusing . . .