Stercorariidae

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family of seabirds known for their large size and distinctive coloration, often referred to as skuas
2. A group of predatory birds belonging to the suborder Lari, noted for their aggressive behavior and scavenging habits
3. A classification of avian species characterized by their strong wings, adaptability to marine environments, and often complex social behaviors

Etymology: Stercorariidae is the scientific name of the family that includes the skuas and jaegers, and its name comes from a Latin word for dung. The genus at its core is "Stercorarius", coined in 1760 by the French naturalist Mathurin Jacques Brisson, and the root is Latin "stercus", meaning dung. The name refers to the birds' habit of harassing other seabirds until they disgorge their meals, which the skuas then catch in midair, a habit that gave them a reputation as dung-eaters. Brisson was a classifier of birds who built a system of named families and genera in the eighteenth century, and he settled on a name that described behavior rather than appearance. The "-idae" ending is the standard zoological suffix for a family, borrowed from the Greek-derived pattern used to name animal families, so the family name is simply the genus name with that ending attached.

Synonyms: skuas