KING SHAG

Photographed on Blumaine Island, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019.

1289                   KING SHAG                   Leucoccarbo carunculatus

NEW ZEALAND                 114

Rare endemic. About 125 pairs in coastal waters of Marlborough Sound only.

FOVEAUX SHAG

Photographed off Stewart Island, April, 2019

1282                FOVEAUX SHAG                Leucococarbo stewarti

NEW ZEALAND              99

Together with the Otago shag were formerly known as Stewart Island Shag, and in its dark phase as the Bronze Shag. Split after 2016. Endemic to Stewart Island, and Foreaux Strait. Dimorphic with two plumages. Less then 2,500 Foveaux Shags remaining.

OTAGO SHAG

Photographed at Oamaru, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1278                    OTAGO SHAG                   Leucocarbo chalconotus

NEW ZEALAND                89

Was formerly known as Stewart Island Shag but DNA testing led to them being split into Otago Shag (found on rocky outcrops off Otago Peninsula, including as far north as Oamaru) and Foveaux Shag(found in Foveaux Straits and Stewart Island). Species is dimorphic, with two plumages; roughly a quarter of individuals are pied and the rest, known as Bronze or Dark Shags, are dark all over; both morphs breed together.

SPOTTED SHAG

Photographed at Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, June 2017

1212                        SPOTTED SHAG                      Stictocarbo punctatus 

NEW ZEALAND                   76

Also known as Blue Shag. 70 cm. Found in estuaries, harbours, and coastal waters around mainland. Locally common endemic.

BLACK SHAG

Photographed at Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, June 2017

(*   169)                    BLACK SHAG              Phalacrocorax carbo  

NEW ZEALAND                  74

Also called Black Cormorant or Big Black Cormorant. Found in rivers, streams and lakes; also estuaries, harbours and sheltered coastal waters. 88 cm. Common native found throughout New Zealand.

LITTLE BLACK SHAG

Photographed at Mount Mamganui, New Zealand, June 2017

(*  164)                 LITTLE BLACK SHAG               Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 

NEW ZEALAND                   62

Also known as Little Black Cormorant. 61 cm. Found in lakes, estuaries and harbours. Common on North Island but rare in South Island.

LITTLE SHAG

Photographed at Miranda, June 2017

(*  138)                 LITTLE SHAG                Phalacrocorax melanoleucos 

NEW ZEALAND                   51

Also known as Little Pied Cormorant. A common native all over New Zealand. 56 cm. Found in lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, also estuaries, harbours and sheltered coastal waters.

PIED SHAG

Photographed on Tiri Tiri Matangi, June 2017

(*  135)               PIED SHAG             Phalcrocorax varius 

NEW ZEALAND               24

Known as Pied Cormorant in Australia; a common native throughout New Zealand. 56 cm. Found in lakes, farm ponds, rivers and streams, also estuaries, harbours and sheltered coastal waters.

BLACK-FACED CORMORANT

Photographed at Low Head, Tasmania, January, 2015

474         BLACK-FACED CORMORANT                 Phalacrocorax fuscescens

Australia           (315)

Also known as Black-faced Shag or White-breasted Cormorant. Range along coast of Tasmania and southern Australia from just above Eden (NSW) to C. Leeuwin (WA). Found in coastal waters, islands, larger bays, deep inlets, ashore mostly on rock stacks or remote rocky headlands, seldom on beaches.

GREAT CORMORANT

169           GREAT CORMORANT          Phalacrocorax carbo

Australia      (169)

Also called Black or Big Black Cormorant, or Black Shag. 72-92 cm, wingspan 1.2 m. Range most of Australia, except interior central w. WA. Found in large waters, coasts, bays, rivers, lakes, farm dams.

LITTLE BLACK CORMORANT

164         LITTLE BLACK CORMORANT              Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

Australia       (164)

Also known as Little Black Shag. 58-64 cm, wingspan c. 1 m. Range across most of Australia, except driest interior. Found in coastal waters, bays, inlets, rivers, swamps, lakes.