Macquarie Shag

Leucocarbo purpurascens(Brandt, JF, 1837)

VulnerableEndemic

Order: SULIFORMES
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Genus: Leucocarbo

Conservation: Vulnerable
Commonness: Rare
Best seen: Summer

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

Macquarie shag Scientific classification Edit this classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae Genus: Leucocarbo Species: L. purpurascens Binomial name Leucocarbo purpurascens (Brandt, JF, 1837) Synonyms[1] Leucocarbo atriceps purpurascens Phalacrocorax purpurascens Notocarbo purpurascens The Macquarie shag (Leucocarbo purpurascens), Macquarie Island shag or Macquarie Island cormorant, is a marine cormorant native to Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean, about halfway between Australia and Antarctica.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length: 65–77 cm
Weight: 1500–3500 g
Wingspan: 110 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

Field tips

behaviour

When perched on coastal rocks, these birds maintain a very upright, vertical posture, often holding their thick, muscular neck in a tight S-shape.

flight

In flight, look for the stark contrast between glossy black upperparts and entirely white underparts, with the feet often visible trailing near the tail.

plumage

Adults feature a vivid cobalt-blue ring of bare skin around the eye and bright orange-yellow caruncles at the base of the bill.
This species is distinguished by entirely black cheeks and ear-coverts that create a sharp, clean division against the bright white plumage of the neck.
During the breeding season, look for a prominent, forward-curving black crest on the crown and a distinctive white patch on the center of the back.

size_and_shape

When perched, note the noticeably pinkish legs and feet, which provide a strong contrast against the glossy black-and-white body plumage.

02 · Where

Where to find it

Breeding range: Macquarie Island and nearby islets

03 · When

When to look

Months this species is recorded across its Australian range.

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

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How to tell it apart

Where to find it

When to look

Habits and haunts

Diet & foraging

Range notes

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