Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b has been detected in great skuas ( Stercorarius skua) across different colonies on islands off the shore of Scotland, Great Britain during summer 2021. Of eight skuas submitted for post-mortem examination, seven have been confirmed as being infected with this virus using a range of diagnostic assays. Here we overview the outbreak event that occurred in this species, listed as species of conservation concern in Great Britain.