From Opus

Photo by MariettaBirder
Enderby Island, New Zealand, January 2007

Alternative name: Auckland Shag

Phalacrocorax colensoi

[edit] Identification

63cm

• Black upperparts with a metallic blue sheen
• White underparts and throat
• Pink legs and feet,
• White wing bar
• Some males have a white patch on the back
• Short black crest.

[edit] Distribution

New Zealand: found on the Auckland Islands.

Photo by MariettaBirder
Enderby Island, New Zealand, January 2007

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic^[1]

This taxon is considered a subspecies of Rough-faced Shag (sensu lato) by some authors^[2]

[edit] Habitat

Open sea and sheltered coastal waters. Breeds on rocky cliffs.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

It breeds and roosts on ledges, on the tops of sea cliffs, in hollows, and also sometimes on flat ground amongst grass tussock or in the shelter of overhanging rocks, bushes or trees. Three eggs are laid and incubation lasts for 28 to 32 days.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes small fish and marine invertebrates.

Juvenile
Photo by MariettaBirder
Enderby Island, New Zealand, January 2007

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. Avibase
3. ArKive
4. BF Member observations

• List of references

[edit] External Links