Britannica Sources used in this answer

How do skuas and jaegers steal food from other seabirds?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Skuas and jaegers—which belong to the family Stercorariidae—are agile and swift predatory seabirds that employ a feeding strategy known as kleptoparasitism.

To obtain food, these birds actively harass other seabirds, such as terns and kittiwakes, forcing them to disgorge their recently caught meals. While these birds are capable of hunting or catching fish on their own, this behavior allows them to acquire sustenance efficiently by stealing it from others. In addition to this practice, they are known to nest near colonies of other seabirds, where they may also steal eggs and young to supplement their diet.123