Chatham Island Shag

Description:

A rare endemic shag is only found in the Chatham Islands. In looks, very similar to the King Shag (Leucocarbo carunculatus) and pied morph of the Stewart Island Shag (Leucocarbo chalcootus) but the three species do not overlap in range. A large black and white shag, shows a small white wing bar in flight, with pink feet and yellow/orange caruncles above the bill, blue eye ring and red/orange gular pouch below bill.

Habitat:

Chatham Island group with the largest breeding colony on the Star keys. Found at both the large lagoon on the main island and also a limited range at sea.

Notes:

This species has a Red List status of 'critically endangered'. Annual counts have never put this species at above 1,000 pairs. Was named after a past governor of New Zealand Lord William Onslow in 1893 by H Forbes.