megalestris skua

2 definitions found

megalestris skua - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Skua \Sku"a\, n. [Icel. sk?fr, sk?mr.] (Zool.)
     Any jager gull; especially, the Megalestris skua; -- called
     also boatswain.
     [1913 Webster]

  Jager \Ja"ger\, n. [G. j[aum]ger a hunter, a sportsman. Cf.
     Yager.] [Written also jaeger.]
     1. (Mil.) A sharpshooter. See Yager.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) Any species of gull of the genus Stercorarius.
        Three species occur on the Atlantic coast. The jagers
        pursue other species of gulls and force them to disgorge
        their prey. The two middle tail feathers are usually
        decidedly longer than the rest. Called also boatswain,
        and marline-spike bird. The name is also applied to the
        skua, or Arctic gull (Megalestris skua).
        [1913 Webster]