European Shag or Great Cormorant? (Greece, Crete) (1 Viewer)

[JarJar]

Hello everybody,

is it possible to ID this bird? I tend between European Shag or Great Cormorant..

Seen in Greece, North-Crete, swimming on the sea, 15. april 2014

Thanks a lot,
Chris

 

[Butty]

The narrow bill and sort-of-steep forehead would make me say shag - but the bare skin at bill-base appears rather like cormorant, which underexposure doesn't help us to see clearly. Any more photos of it?

 

[JarJar]

Hi Butty - thanks for your reply! There are more - but unfortunately no better pictures....
Best regards,
Chris

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
thanks for the new picture. It is easier to asses an important feature with more confidence in more pictures.

I agree with Butty, its a Shag. Please note the points Butty has already mentioned and the isolated eye (would be sorrounded by yellowish/warm-creamy bare-skin in a Cormorant)

 

[pianoman]

I would have expected Shag to have developed its tuft by April but I agree it does look like one.

 

[KC Foggin]

I'm going with European Shag.

 

[Steve Lister]

Definitely a Shag, and a first-winter one which explains the lack of crest that 'pianoman' was concerned about.

 

[Eranou]

I would say shag too, if you look closely enough at the second picture it does look like there may be a slight crest/tuft at the front and rounded towards the back of the head to the neck. I will admit that the light can be deceptive though!

 

[Butty]

Clearly immature, so crests just don't feature.

 

[Eranou]

More of a peak than a crest or tuft then Butty - what i meant, was the shape of the head is more akin to a juvenile Shag with the crown peaking at the front Instead of the back of the head, and as you pointed out earlier the steeper forehead angle / slender bill.

 

[JarJar]

Thanks @All for your great help and the infos leading to a shag!
Best regards,
Chris

 

[Earnest lad]

Clearly immature, so crests just don't feature.

Also, could this be desmaresti subspecies, which , according to a book, has little or no crest?

 

[Butty]

Given its location, it is desmarestii (spelling). But that's neither here nor there: it's immature, so it would have no crest regardless of what race it is.

 

[Earnest lad]

Given its location, it is desmarestii (spelling). But that's neither here nor there: it's immature, so it would have no crest regardless of what race it is.

Thank you for kindly pointing that out Butty