Imperial Shag
Leucocarbo atriceps
The Imperial Shag (Leucocarbo atriceps) is a uncommon cormorants and shag found in 5 countries, weighing about 2.0 kg. The imperial shag or imperial cormorant is a black-and-white cormorant native to southern South America, islands of the Subantarctic, and the Antarctic Peninsula, primarily in rocky coastal regions, but locally also at large inland lakes.
About the Imperial Shag
The imperial shag or imperial cormorant is a black-and-white cormorant native to southern South America, islands of the Subantarctic, and the Antarctic Peninsula, primarily in rocky coastal regions, but locally also at large inland lakes. Some taxonomic authorities, including the International Ornithologists' Union, place it in the genus Leucocarbo, others in the genus Phalacrocorax. It is also known as the blue-eyed shag, blue-eyed cormorant and by many other names, and is one of a larger group of cormorants called blue-eyed shags. The taxonomy is complex, and several types are treated as either subspecies or separate species.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Australia.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, July, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Watch the Imperial Shag on live cams
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Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Imperial Shag?
- 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. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Imperial Shag?
- The Imperial Shag is a huge sized bird weighing about 2.0 kg.
- Where can you see an Imperial Shag?
- The Imperial Shag occurs in 5 countries, including Chile, Argentina, the Falkland Islands and Uruguay.
- What birds look similar to an Imperial Shag?
- The Imperial Shag is most easily confused with the Guanay Cormorant, the Stewart Island Shag and the New Zealand King Shag.
Learn the Imperial Shag for real
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