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Difference between revisions of "European Shag" - BirdForum Opus

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'''Alternative names: Common Cormorant; Common Shag; Green Cormorant; Green Shag; Shag'''
 
'''Alternative names: Common Cormorant; Common Shag; Green Cormorant; Green Shag; Shag'''
 
[[Image:European_Shag.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|malgos|malgos}} <br /> [[Farne Islands]]]]
 
[[Image:European_Shag.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|malgos|malgos}} <br /> [[Farne Islands]]]]
;[[:Category:Phalacrocorax|Phalacrocorax]] aristotelis
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;[[:Category:Gulosus|Gulosus]] aristotelis
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''Phalacrocorax aristotelis''
  
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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Recorded as a '''vagrant''' east to [[Poland]] and [[Finland]], in Central [[Europe]] in the [[Czech Republic]], [[Austria]] and [[Switzerland]] and as far south as the [[Canary Islands]] and [[Madeira]], [[Israel]] and [[Egypt]].
 
Recorded as a '''vagrant''' east to [[Poland]] and [[Finland]], in Central [[Europe]] in the [[Czech Republic]], [[Austria]] and [[Switzerland]] and as far south as the [[Canary Islands]] and [[Madeira]], [[Israel]] and [[Egypt]].
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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Formerly included in the genus ''Phalacrocorax''
 
====Subspecies====
 
====Subspecies====
 
There are 3 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
 
There are 3 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
*''P. a. aristotelis'':
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*''G. a. aristotelis'':
 
:*[[Iceland]] and northern [[Scandinavia]] south to [[Iberian Peninsula]]
 
:*[[Iceland]] and northern [[Scandinavia]] south to [[Iberian Peninsula]]
*''P. a. desmarestii'':
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*''G. a. desmarestii'':
 
:*[[Mediterranean]] coasts and islands
 
:*[[Mediterranean]] coasts and islands
*''P. a. riggenbachi'':
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*''G. a. riggenbachi'':
 
:*West coast of [[Morocco]] (Casablanca to Puerto Cansado)
 
:*West coast of [[Morocco]] (Casablanca to Puerto Cansado)
  
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[[Image:IMG 91391.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Diving action<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Macswede|Macswede}}<br />Helensburgh, [[Scotland]], August 2010]]
 
[[Image:IMG 91391.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Diving action<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Macswede|Macswede}}<br />Helensburgh, [[Scotland]], August 2010]]
 
{{ Audio|Phalacrocorax aristotelis (song).mp3 }}
 
{{ Audio|Phalacrocorax aristotelis (song).mp3 }}
''[[Media:Phalacrocorax aristotelis (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
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==References==
 
==References==
 
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
 
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
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{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Phalacrocorax+aristotelis}}  
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[[Image:Icon_camera_link.png]] [https://www.birdforum.net/search/?type=xfmg_media&q=%22Gulosus+aristotelis%22+|+%22Phalacrocorax+aristotelis%22+|+%22Shag%22+|+%22Common+Cormorant%22+|+%22Green+Cormorant%22&o=date&c%5Bcategories%5D%5B0%5D=527&c%5Bcategories%5D%5B1%5D=529&c%5Bchild_categories%5D=1 Search for photos of {{PAGENAME}} in the gallery]
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<!--EDITORS: this is a complex individualised search to eliminate non-European Shag species-->
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{{GS-checked}}1
 
<br />
 
<br />
{{Video|European_Shag}}
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<br />
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Phalacrocorax]]  [[Category:Bird Songs]][[Category:Videos]]
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Gulosus]]  [[Category:Bird Songs]]

Latest revision as of 12:17, 15 February 2023

Alternative names: Common Cormorant; Common Shag; Green Cormorant; Green Shag; Shag

Photo © by malgos
Farne Islands
Gulosus aristotelis

Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Identification

68-78cm (26¾-30¾ in).

  • Black plumage with metallic green sheen
  • Yellow throat patch
  • Small crest when breeding
  • Long tail

Similar Species

Great Cormorant forehead is less steep.

Juvenile/immature Shags both have a white throat. Cormorant always have dark feet and young Shags have paler feet (webs between the toes).

Distribution

Confined to the Western Palearctic, the Shag breeds in western Iceland and the Faroes, coastal Arctic Russia to southern Norway, around north and west coasts of the British Isles, north-west France and northern Iberia. In the Mediterranean breeds in coastal Spain and the Balearics, Corsica and Sardinia, the eastern Adriatic, Crete and the Aegean and Cyprus. In North Africa breeds in coastal Tunisia and on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, possibly also on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt.

Juvenile
Photo © by the late Chocky
Devon, UK, February 2011

After breeding, some disperse short distances particularly young birds but many populations appear to be largely sedentary.

Recorded as a vagrant east to Poland and Finland, in Central Europe in the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland and as far south as the Canary Islands and Madeira, Israel and Egypt.

Taxonomy

Formerly included in the genus Phalacrocorax

Subspecies

There are 3 subspecies[1]:

  • G. a. aristotelis:
  • G. a. desmarestii:
  • G. a. riggenbachi:
  • West coast of Morocco (Casablanca to Puerto Cansado)

Habitat

Photo © by IanF
South Gare, Redcar, Yorkshire, UK, March 2010

Almost exclusively marine, the Shag occasionally appears on inland waters after severe weather at sea. Breeds along rocky coastlines and islands with cliffs, birds remaining in shallow coastal seas off similar coasts in winter. Rarely appears on sandy or muddy shores.

Behaviour

Flight

They are inclined to fly closer to the water than Great Cormorant, with faster wing beats. May be in lines, or loose flocks.

Diet

They dive for their food, feeding from the bottom of the sea. A variety of fish is taken, but particularly the sand eel.

Breeding

It breeds on coasts. The nests are built from seaweed and twigs and are placed on rock ledges, caves or crevices; 3 egge are laid. The young fledge after 8 weeks.

Vocalisation

Diving action
Photo © by Macswede
Helensburgh, Scotland, August 2010

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
  3. BF Member observations

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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