Species profile

Name: the imperial shag or cormorant (Leucocarbo atriceps) is a black and white species of cormorant. The taxonomy is complex and there are a number of species which are sometimes referred to as the same species or a subspecies of imperial shag or their own unique species. These include the imperial shag, king cormorant, Antarctic shag, South Georgia shag, Heard Island shag, Crozet shag, and Macquarie shag.

Appearance: imperial shags have glossy black feathers with white stomachs and necks. They have a distinctive ring of blue around their eyes and pink legs and feet.

Size: they measure around 70 cm long and weigh 2.5 kg.

Diet: they mainly feed on fish which they catch through diving – reaching depths of up to 25 metres.

Did you know: imperial shags live in colonies. These colonies are usually quite small but can reach up into the hundreds. They often share their space with other seabirds such as penguins and albatross. They stay with their mates for life and usually lay around five eggs. Their nests are made of seaweed and grass and held together by mud and droppings.

Location: they are found in southern South America, primarily in rocky coastal regions, but also in large, inland lakes. As well as islands throughout Antarctica.

Where to see imperial shags

According to reports submitted to WildSide, you can see imperial shags in the following places:

Photo credit: Paul Balfe under a Creative Commons licence from Flickr