Coasts of southern South America, from south-central Chile (Concepción) and southern Argentina (Deseado) to southern Tierra del Fuego. Apparently winters mainly along coasts of Chile and Argentina, extending north to southern Peru and possibly east to western Falkland Is.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Chilean Skua (Stercorarius chilensis) [XC521742]
by GABRIEL LEITE from Isla Martillo, Estancia Haberton, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (call)
Chilean Skua (Stercorarius chilensis) [XC70506]
by id from Isla Pinguino, Puerto Deseado, Santa Cruz, Argentina (wing display on ground)
Subspecies
Occasional hybridization with subspecies aantarctica of Brown Skua (Catharacta antarctica) reported.
No subspecies.
Notes
Previously four subspecies of Catharacta skua, were nominate skua, lonnbergi, antarctica and hamiltoni. They have now been split into four distinct species, Great Skua Catharacta skua, breeds in northern hemisphere, Southern Skua Catharacta antarctica, breeds Falkland Islands and Patagonia, Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi, circumpolar, breeding on subantarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, and Chatham Island, and Chilean Skua Catharacta chilensis.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet