- Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Description
Location: Farne Islands
Identification
Shag (European Shag) Phalacrocorax aristotelis RANGE 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.
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 sout as the Canary Is and Madeira, Israel and Egypt.
HABITAT 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.
SUBSPECIES Nominate race breeds from Iceland to Scandinavia and south to northern Spain, slightly smaller desmarestii from the Mediterranean has reduced crest, longer and yellower bill and more extensive yellow skin on face, the juvenile is largely whitish below. North-West African race riggenbachi is intermediate with bill more like nominate.
Bird Song
<flashmp3>Phalacrocorax aristotelis (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
