Cormorants · Cormorants and gannets
European Shag
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Phalacrocorax aristotelis
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How to recognize it
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68–78 cm, smaller than Great Cormorant
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Black, slim build, fairly long tail
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Yellow throat patch, thin pointed bill
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Small crest in breeding season, green gloss
About the species
Mostly black, the European Shag has a green metallic sheen in good light, and adults in the breeding season wear a small crest on the head. A yellow patch at the base of the bill breaks up the dark face, while young ones can show a paler, browner underside.
It moves with a cautious manner on the water and dives for food rather than skimming around inland. The voice is usually little more than low, rough croaks, heard most often at the nest or when a chick is being fed. On land it keeps to rocky ledges and awkward gaps in the cliff.
It lives close to the sea, breeding on rocky coasts, islands, and steep offshore rocks. It feeds mainly on fish, taken on deep dives near the bottom, and it is rarely seen far from the shore. Most stay near the breeding area through winter, while a few northern ones move farther.
Where to find
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On rocky waterfronts with breakwaters and boulders — diving right beside the stones, then standing on a ledge to dry its wings.
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Around old bridges and piers with cracks in the masonry — it clings to narrow shelves, and in the morning often drops into the water for fish.
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On sea cliffs and rough coastal outcrops — the black back is easy to pick out against the grey rock, with sudden launches from a ledge.
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In quiet coves with clear water — short, repeated dives along the bottom, with barely any time spent on the surface.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Phalacrocorax aristotelis Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — European shag Encyclopedia article