Arctic skua sketch | Limited edition fine art print from an original drawing.

Arctic Skuas are infamous for their behavior known as kleptoparasitism, where they relentlessly chase other seabirds, forcing them to drop or regurgitate their catch for the skua to steal. They exhibit a noticeable polymorphism, typically appearing in either a distinct light phase (with pale underparts) or a dark phase (uniformly dark brown), with intermediate forms also present. As long-distance migrants, these birds breed in Arctic and subarctic environments during summer but travel vast distances to spend the winter months far south, sometimes reaching the Southern Hemisphere oceans.
I wanted to capture the sheer predatory speed of this ocean wanderer, its wings angled perfectly for the chase. That glimpse of sheer, unbridled energy—the wind shearing off its primary feathers—is what makes this moment a frozen testament to life at sea.