From Opus

Phalacrocorax georgianus

Photo by rafo1
Grytviken, South Georgia 18/11/2007

[edit] Identification

Largish black and white, blue-eyed marine shag, Size 72-75 cm, wing 27-30.4 cm, Males are larger in most mensural data, particularly wing and tail lengths.

[edit] Similar Species

Smaller than the two closest living, similar species Imperial Shag and Antarctic Shag with a proportionally shorter bill. Has less white in the face than Antarctic Shag. Range does not overlap with either species.

[edit] Distribution

Restricted to South Georgia Islands, South Sandwich and South Orkney Islands.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species, which in the past has been included in Imperial Shag.

[edit] Habitat

Breeds on Tussac grass slopes, building truncated cone shaped nests of dried kelp, grass and mud.

[edit] Behaviour

Lays 2-3 greyish or bluish eggs in Nov-Dec, incubated by both sexes for 28-31 days. Chicks continuosly brood for 12-15 days and leave the nest at two months and fledge at around 65 days.

[edit] References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
2. Alvaro Jaramillo. 2003. Birds of Chile. Princeton Field Guides. ISBN 0-691-11740-3

[edit] External Links