South Georgia Shag

Description:

A sub-species of the Imperial Shag that is restricted to South Georgia and Shag Rocks. It has glossy black feathers over most of its body, a white belly and throat, large pink feet, a yellow knob above its beak and a blue ring of skin around the eye (hence its other common name, blue eyed shag). In breeding season, the males have a large crest. As it was outside of breeding season, this individual's colourful facial features are dulled.

Habitat:

Found inshore sitting on a rock in Cumberland Bay, South Georgia

Notes:

I was only lucky enough to see one of these guys. Even outside breeding season, you can still see the pretty blue eye ring! It was snowing while I was taking photos of it, and my camera found it hard to focus on the bird!