About the New Zealand King Shag
The New Zealand king shag, also known as the rough-faced shag, king shag or kawau pāteketeke, is a rare bird endemic to New Zealand. Some taxonomic authorities, including the International Ornithologists' Union, place this species in the genus Leucocarbo. Others place it in the genus Phalacrocorax.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
It is a large (76 cm long, 2.5 kg in weight) black and white cormorant with pink feet. White patches on the wings appear as bars when the wings are folded. Yellow-orange swellings (caruncles) are found above the base of the bill. The grey gular pouch is reddish in the breeding season. A blue eye-ring indicates its kinship with the other blue-eyed shags. They show sexual dimorphism, with males being larger than females. This difference is noticeable as early as 17 days after hatching.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in November · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Auckland ShagLeucocarbo colensoiThe Auckland shag or Auckland Islands shag is a species of cormorant from New Zealand.
Chatham ShagLeucocarbo onslowiAn adult Chatham Islands shag is 63 cm (25 in) in length and weighs around 1,790–2,400 g (63–85 oz).
Campbell ShagLeucocarbo campbelliThe Campbell Island shag is a marine bird with black and white plumage and pink feet.
Learn the New Zealand King Shag for real
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