Back to gallery

The pied shag,(Phalacrocorax varius,)

The black shag is New Zealand’s biggest shag at over 2 kg and 88 cm in length. It breeds throughout New Zealand (inland and coastal) and is found in most parts of the world.

The little black shag is less than half the size of its larger relative, and lacks a white face, being almost wholly glossy black. It is found throughout Australasia. In New Zealand it is largely restricted to the North Island and the top of the South Island. It is also found well inland.

The pied shag is a similar size to the black shag, but the underparts of the body are white. It is also found in Australia. It has a patchy, coastal distribution in New Zealand

3,016 views
89 faves
20 comments
Uploaded on October 21, 2024
Taken on January 20, 2017