Photo: Liam Quinn from Canada / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rock Shag
Leucocarbo magellanicus
Rock Shag (Leucocarbo magellanicus) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of South America.
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The Rock Shag (Leucocarbo magellanicus) is a member of the Phalacrocoracidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 1.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Suliformes
- Family Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants, Shags
- Genus Leucocarbo
- Species magellanicus
Where it lives
Coastal south-central Chile and south-central Argentina to Cape Horn and Falkland Is.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.5 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Phalacrocoracidae
- Order
- Suliformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rock Shag hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Rock Shag is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rock Shag (Leucocarbo magellanicus) is a species of bird in the Phalacrocoracidae family, part of the order Suliformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA coastal sc Chile and sc Argentina to Cape Horn and Falkland Is.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.5 kg, with a wing length of about 25 cm and a tail of around 13.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 468,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rock Shag?
The Rock Shag is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.
Where does the Rock Shag live?
The Rock Shag is found across South America with a range covering SA coastal sc Chile and sc Argentina to Cape Horn and Falkland Is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Rock Shag belong to?
The Rock Shag (Leucocarbo magellanicus) belongs to the Phalacrocoracidae family, in the order Suliformes.
What does the Rock Shag eat?
The Rock Shag hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Rock Shag migrate?
The Rock Shag is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rock Shag endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Rock Shag make?
1 real field recording of the Rock Shag — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rock Shag's range?
The Rock Shag has a mapped global range of about 468,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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