Imperial Shag
Leucocarbo atriceps
The imperial shag has a total length of 70–79 cm (28–31 in) and weighs 1.8–3.5 kg (4.0–7.7 lb), with males usually larger than females. It is endowed with glossy black feathers covering most of its body, with a white belly and neck. It possesses a distinctive ring of blue skin around its eyes, an orange-yellow nasal knob, pinkish legs and feet, and an erectile black crest. During the non-breeding season, adults lack the crest, have a duller facial area, and less or no white to the back and wings. It has a serrated bill used for catching fish.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Stewart Island Shag
Leucocarbo chalconotus
The species is dimorphic, with two plumages. Roughly one quarter of the individuals are pied, with dark and white feathers, and the rest, known as bronze shags, are dark all over. Both morphs breed together. These large, chunky birds are about 70 cm long and weigh about 2–3 kg. Stewart Island shags vary in their facial ornamentation in the breeding season. Roughly half of breeding individuals have dark orange papillae on their face, while the other half have small bright orange caruncles above the base of the bill instead.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Play today's Daily BirdPhotos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Imperial Shag and Stewart Island Shag.