Spotted Shag (Phalacrocorax punctatus)
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Spotted Shag

Phalacrocorax punctatus (Sparrman, 1786)

1.2 kgWeight

The spotted shag or pārekareka (Phalacrocorax punctatus) is a species of cormorant endemic to New Zealand.

Busiest months: January–February and November · Most records: New Zealand

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Spotted Shag has been recorded at 68 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Kaikoura – offshore – Albatross Encounter pelagicNew Zealand2,802 records
  2. Taiaroa Head – Royal Albatross CentreNew Zealand811 records
  3. Queen Charlotte SoundNew Zealand639 records
More places
  1. Rakiura NP – Ulva IslandNew Zealand548 records
  2. Foveaux StraitNew Zealand470 records
  3. Aramoana Mole/Harbour EntranceNew Zealand441 records
  4. Nugget PointNew Zealand398 records
  5. Taiaroa Head/Harbour EntranceNew Zealand380 records
  6. Katiki PointNew Zealand364 records
  7. Kaikoura – Point Kean Seal ColonyNew Zealand292 records

Countries and regions with the most records

New Zealand

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The spotted shag or pārekareka (Phalacrocorax punctatus) is a species of cormorant endemic to New Zealand. Though originally classified as Phalacrocorax punctatus, it is sufficiently different in appearance from typical members of that genus that for a time it was placed in a separate genus, Stictocarbo, along with a similar species, the Pitt shag. Subsequent genetic studies show that the spotted shag's lineage is nested within the typical shags.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Spotted Shag?

The Spotted Shag weighs around 1.2 kg.

Where does the Spotted Shag live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: coastal North, South and Stewart islands (New Zealand). It is most often recorded in New Zealand.

When is the best time to see the Spotted Shag?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January, February and November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Spotted Shag endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Spotted Shag as Least Concern.

What does the Spotted Shag eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the Spotted Shag in?

It belongs to the family Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae), order Suliformes.

At a glance

Weight
1.2 kg
Habitat
Ocean
Diet
Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle
On the water surface
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
241 mm
Tail
92 mm
Bill
67 mm
Tarsus
63 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Australasia: coastal North, South and Stewart islands (New Zealand)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Cormorants, Shags Phalacrocoracidae
Genus
Phalacrocorax

Other birds in the genus Phalacrocorax

Bank CormorantBank CormorantPhalacrocorax neglectusSocotra CormorantSocotra CormorantPhalacrocorax nigrogularisPitt ShagPitt ShagPhalacrocorax featherstoniBlack-faced CormorantBlack-faced CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscescensAustralian Pied CormorantAustralian Pied CormorantPhalacrocorax variusLittle Black CormorantLittle Black CormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostrisIndian CormorantIndian CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscicollisCape CormorantCape CormorantPhalacrocorax capensisJapanese CormorantJapanese CormorantPhalacrocorax capillatusGreat CormorantGreat CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
Spotted Shag

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from reference photos. ↗

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