Pancake Rock (Punakaki), New Zealand - Feb 12 / 18 (1 Viewer)

Loutsy

Well-known member

• Mar 6, 2018

• #1

I was recently in New Zealand and spotted lots of Cormorants/Shags. After returning, I spent some time trying to learn the difference (should have done this before I left!!). From my understanding, Shags are different from Cormorants and would be a tick for me.

Attached is photo taken at Pancake Rocks on Feb 12/18. My initial guess would have been a Pied Shag, but these birds have orange feet. Can't be a Great Cormorant because of the face and again the feet.

Thanks in advance for your help in ID.

 

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SimonLS

Well-known member

• Mar 6, 2018

• #2

How about Spotted Shag?

 

Loutsy

Well-known member

• Mar 7, 2018

• #3

New Zealand, Panakaki

Hi Simon - Don't think it is the Spotted Shag as that Shag has a white top of head and back of neck and large black area around eye whereas photo shows this bird is opposite - has black on top of head and white eye, front of neck and breast, etc.

When I spotted this bird, I made a note that a it had "black rump, black stripe on head, orange or yellow bill and orange or yellow feet".

Lousy

 

Birdbrain22

Well-known member

• Mar 7, 2018

• #4

Check out juvenile Spotted Shag...

 

J

Jack Dawe

Well-known member

• Mar 7, 2018

• #5

I was there yesterday and was happy that the birds were Spotted Shags - a mixture of immatures and non-breeding adults.

 

SJC

Well-known member

• Mar 7, 2018

• #6

+1 for Spotted Shag

 

Loutsy

Well-known member

• Mar 8, 2018

• #7

New Zealand, Pancake Rocks - Feb 12, 2018

Thanks everyone - woohoo a tick for me!