Archibald Thorburn (1860 – 1935) was a renowned British watercolorist and illustrator, celebrated for his highly detailed, naturalistic paintings of British wildlife, particularly game birds and birds of prey.

He is widely considered one of the foremost bird artists of his time, with his work capturing the plumage, texture, and natural behavior of birds with great technical precision.

The Great Skua is a pirate of the seas which will steal a free meal from birds as large as Gannets. It also preys on smaller birds such as Puffins. Great Skuas show little fear of humans – anybody getting close to the nest will be repeatedly dive-bombed by the angry adult.

These birds migrate to the northernmost isles of the UK from their wintering grounds off the coasts of Spain and Africa. At a distance, they look stout and dark and show white wing flashes in flight.