How Do You Spell SKUA?

Pronunciation: [skˈuːə] (IPA)

The word "skua" is a challenging one to spell due to the unusual combination of sounds it contains. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is written as /skjuːə/. The first three letters represent the "s" sound followed by a "k" sound, while the "u" and "a" vowels create the two-syllable sound of "skua". The final "ə" symbol indicates that the last sound in the word is a schwa, which is an unstressed vowel sound that is pronounced as a relaxed version of the "uh" sound.

SKUA Meaning and Definition

  1. A skua is a seabird belonging to the family Stercorariidae. It is a larger bird characterized by its robust body, long wingspan, and strong beak. Skuas are known for their opportunistic feeding habits, often behaving as scavengers and pirates, stealing food from other birds. They are highly skilled at aerial pursuits, often chasing other birds to steal their catch.

    Skua species can be found in various regions around the world, predominantly in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, as well as coastal areas. They exhibit different plumage variations, with some species having dark brown or blackish feathers, while others have a combination of white, brown, and gray markings.

    These birds are known for their aggressive behavior, particularly during the breeding season, where they fiercely defend their nests from intruders. Skuas are also highly territorial and will readily engage in aerial battles with other birds, often dive-bombing them to drive them away.

    In addition to being scavengers, skuas are also known to consume fish, squid, and smaller seabirds. They have a powerful and hooked beak, which assists them in tearing apart prey and feeding on carcasses.

    Due to their adaptability and opportunistic feeding habits, skuas play an important role in maintaining marine ecosystems by cleaning up carrion and regulating population sizes of other seabirds.

Common Misspellings for SKUA

Etymology of SKUA

The word "skua" is derived from the Norse word "skúfr" or "skúmr", which means "to shove" or "to drive away". This term was originally used to refer to the great skua, a seabird known for its aggressive behavior and tendency to harass other birds in order to steal their food. Over time, the word "skua" became the common name for this bird species and was later extended to include other related species of skuas.

Similar spelling words for SKUA

Plural form of SKUA is SKUAS

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