Australia
SpeciesField NotesLog inDownload

Field notes

Stay in the loop

Get updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

By subscribing, I agree to receive BirdUp Australia updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

Australia
Download for iOSDownload for AndroidSpeciesField NotesRSSNewsletterBrandPrivacyTerms

BirdUp Australia Pty Ltd © 2026. Made in Australia for Australian birders.

  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Phalacrocoracidae
  4. ›
  5. Phalacrocorax
  6. ›
  7. Australian Pied Cormorant
Australian Pied Cormorant
Photo · no rights reserved

BirdUp · Species

Australian Pied Cormorant

Phalacrocorax varius(Gmelin, JF, 1789)

Updated 21 March 2026

Also known asKāruhiruhi

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Native
Order
SULIFORMES
Family
Phalacrocoracidae
Genus
Phalacrocorax

At a glance

The Australian Pied Cormorant is a very large bird, about 65–85 cm long, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
65–85 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does an Australian Pied Cormorant look like?

The Australian Pied Cormorant is a very large bird, about 65–85 cm long and weighing 800–2900 g.

The Australian pied cormorant, also known as the pied cormorant, pied shag, or great pied cormorant, is a medium-sized member of the cormorant family. It is found around the coasts of Australasia. In New Zealand, it is usually known either as the pied shag or by its Māori name of kāruhiruhi. Older sources may refer to it as the "yellow-faced cormorant".

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
65–85 cm
Weight
800–2900 g
Wingspan
110 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see an Australian Pied Cormorant?

The Australian Pied Cormorant is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does an Australian Pied Cormorant eat?

The Australian Pied Cormorant feeds on fish/invertebrates and fish/invertebrates, usually foraging alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

3 photos

The BirdUp app

Log your next Australian Pied Cormorant in the field

A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.

Get the appRead field notes
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report incorrect info

02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Australian Pied Cormorant live in Australia?

The Australian Pied Cormorant is native to Australia, recorded across 85 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingCoastal and inland Australia and North and South and Stewart is. (New Zealand)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident

8 regions recorded