Photo: M. Murphy / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Auckland Shag
Leucocarbo colensoi
Auckland Shag (Leucocarbo colensoi) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Auckland Shag (Leucocarbo colensoi) is a member of the Phalacrocoracidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Suliformes
- Family Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants, Shags
- Genus Leucocarbo
- Species colensoi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Phalacrocoracidae
- Order
- Suliformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Auckland 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 Auckland Shag is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Auckland Shag (Leucocarbo colensoi) is a member of the Phalacrocoracidae family, within the order Suliformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Auckland Is. (s of South I., New Zealand).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2 kg, with a wing length of about 27.4 cm and a tail of around 12.4 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5,303 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Auckland Shag?
The Auckland Shag is a very large bird that weighs around 2 kg.
Where does the Auckland Shag live?
The Auckland Shag is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Auckland Is. (s of South I., New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Auckland Shag belong to?
The Auckland Shag (Leucocarbo colensoi) belongs to the Phalacrocoracidae family, in the order Suliformes.
What does the Auckland Shag eat?
The Auckland Shag hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Auckland Shag migrate?
The Auckland Shag is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Auckland Shag endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
How large is the Auckland Shag's range?
The Auckland Shag has a mapped global range of about 5,303 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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