Campbell Island Shag

The Campbell Island Shag is classified as Vulnerable (VU), considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Campbell Island shag has a short, Mohican-like crest on the top of the head. It is therefore strange that the Latin name Phalacrocorax derives from two Greek words meaning bald raven. The plumage on the head, long neck, back and wings is black, with a metallic blue sheen; the chin and underparts are white, and it has a white stripe on its folded wings. The strong, webbed feet are pink, and the base of the bill is orangey-red (4). More

Campbell Island shag has a short, Mohican-like crest on the top of the head. It is therefore strange that the Latin ... More

Campbell Island shags often hunt in a pack, fanning out along the water in a line, then beating the surface with their wings before diving. About this item Private collection Photograph by Christina Troup This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. More

The Campbell Island shag is restricted to Campbell Island; the New Zealand king shag breeds only in the Marlborough Sounds and is largely confined to the Cook Strait region; the Stewart Island shag breeds only in southern New Zealand from Timaru to Foveaux Strait; the Auckland Island shag is restricted to the Auckland Islands; the Chatham Island and Pitt Island shags are restricted to the Chatham Islands; and the Bounty Island shag is restricted to the Bounty Islands. More