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Imperial Shag
(Phalacrocorax atriceps)
: "Imperial Cormorant", "Macquarie Shag", "Blue-eyed Shag", "Blue-eyed Cormorant"
Size: 72-76 cm; wing span ca. 1.1 m
Weight: 2.5-3.5 kg
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Imperial Shags are small, black-and-white cormorants.
Their front is white, the back is black, the wings are glossy black.
They are the only Australian cormorant with a white upperwing stripe.
Legs, feet and bill are dark-grey. They have striking blue eyes
and yellow carunculation
at the base of the bill and between the eyes.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Macquarie Shag
at Wikipedia .
Click here for classification information
The Macquarie Shag, here listed as race "purpurascens" of
the Imperial Shag, Phalacrocorax atriceps, is treated by many
as a separate species, "Phalacrocorax purpurascens".
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Imperial Shag, race "purpurascens",
which is often also called the "Macquarie Shag", is available
HERE
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Imperial Shags, race "purpurascens",
are endemic to the Macquarie
Group in the Southern Ocean, near halfway between the Australian
continent and Antarctica. They are mostly found on Macquarie and
nearby Heard Islands and the sea around them, but occasionally also
on the nearby smaller islands.
Imperial Shags are mostly found on coastal waters and rocky shores of these offshore islands.
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Where to look? How to find
this species? |
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It is important for all birds spending a lot of time under water,
such as cormorants and darters,
to dry and seal their plumage. They will often be seen on perches near
the water's edge, such as rocks, dead branches, poles or lampposts,
drying their plumage with extended wings.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
B. Hensen reports spotting Imperial Shags, race "purpurascens",
(Macquarie Shags) on Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, in December
1993.
M. Mearns spotted Imperial Shags, race "purpurascens",
(Macquarie Shags) in Antarctica in January 2005.
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Photos |
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Race "purpurascens"
This race is also called "Macquarie Shag".
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ADULT |
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BREEDING |
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Portrait of a Macquarie Shag in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, December 1993]
Lateral view of two Macquarie Shags in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Antarctica, January 2005]
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Breeding information |
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Breeding season: Sep - Jan |
Eggs: 2 - 3 |
Incubation period: ca. 28 days |
Fledging age: ca. 35 days |
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"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna",
"jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Bowl |
Material: Mud, guano, plants |
Height above ground: N/A |
Colony of nesting Macquarie Shags (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, December 1993]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk",
"ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg;
"dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: ? |
Colour: Pale blue |
Shape: ? |
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.