Australasian Birds

Phalacrocoracidae : Cormorants

Spotted Shag

Phalacrocorax punctatus

Adult - Taiaroa Head, New Zealand - November 2005

Spotted Shag is endemic to New Zealand, where, especially on South Island, it is locally common

Adult - Taiaroa Head, New Zealand - November 2005

Due to a tendency to nest at sites where it is difficult to accurately count the number of nests, the estimates of the total population tend to be inaccurate and it is currently thought to have a world population of somewhere between 10000 and 50000 pairs.

Juvenile playing with a stick - Taiaroa Head, New Zealand - November 2005

Juvenile playing with a stick - Taiaroa Head, New Zealand - November 2005

Juvenile - Taiaroa Head, New Zealand - November 2005