Stewart Island Shag
Leucocarbo chalconotus
Stewart Island Shag (Leucocarbo chalconotus) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Australia & Oceania.
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The Stewart Island Shag (Leucocarbo chalconotus) is a member of the Phalacrocoracidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 2.2 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 chalconotus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.2 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Phalacrocoracidae
- Order
- Suliformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Endangered
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Stewart Island 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 Stewart Island Shag is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Stewart Island Shag (Leucocarbo chalconotus) is a species of bird in the Phalacrocoracidae family, part of the order Suliformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU South and Stewart is. (New Zealand).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.2 kg, with a wing length of about 28.3 cm and a tail of around 11.4 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 14,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Stewart Island Shag?
The Stewart Island Shag is a very large bird that weighs around 2.2 kg.
Where does the Stewart Island Shag live?
The Stewart Island Shag is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU South and Stewart is. (New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Stewart Island Shag belong to?
The Stewart Island Shag (Leucocarbo chalconotus) belongs to the Phalacrocoracidae family, in the order Suliformes.
What does the Stewart Island Shag eat?
The Stewart Island Shag hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Stewart Island Shag migrate?
The Stewart Island Shag is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Stewart Island 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 Stewart Island Shag's range?
The Stewart Island Shag has a mapped global range of about 14,000 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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