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New Zealand King Shag
A species of Cormorant Scientific name : Leucocarbo carunculatus Genus : Cormorant
New Zealand King Shag, A species of Cormorant
Botanical name: Leucocarbo carunculatus
Genus: Cormorant
Content
Description
![New Zealand King Shag (Leucocarbo carunculatus)](/wiki-image/1080/153405872393945130.jpeg)
![](/wiki-static/name/4235f29e1de7f26452173dd4a37c7712/website/img/icon/field_icons/icon_description@3x.png)
Description
![](/wiki-static/name/4235f29e1de7f26452173dd4a37c7712/website/img/icon/icon_arrow_description@3x.png)
It is a large (76 cm long, 2.5 kg in weight) black and white cormorant with pink feet. White patches on the wings appear as bars when the wings are folded. Yellow-orange swellings (caruncles) are found above the base of the bill. The grey gular pouch is reddish in the breeding season. A blue eye-ring indicates its kinship with the other blue-eyed shags.
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Size
76 cm
Feeding Habits
New Zealand King Shag primarily consumes benthic fish and crustaceans, utilizing pursuit-diving techniques. Occasionally, new Zealand King Shag forms small flocks for feeding.
Habitat
New Zealand King Shag typically inhabits marine environments, specifically in sheltered inlets and coastal bays. They prefer areas near the coast where they can forage for food, avoiding more turbulent open ocean waters. Breeding sites are particularly specialized, consisting of rocky islets and stacks that can offer flat ground or steep slopes for nesting. Outside of breeding periods, new Zealand King Shag roosts on bare rocks, maintaining a strong connection with coastal ecosystems.
Dite type
Piscivorous
![](/wiki-static/name/4235f29e1de7f26452173dd4a37c7712/website/img/icon/pic_download@3x.png)
![New Zealand King Shag (Leucocarbo carunculatus)](/wiki-image/1080/153405872393945130.jpeg)
![](/wiki-static/name/4235f29e1de7f26452173dd4a37c7712/website/img/icon/icon_enlarge@2x.png)
![New Zealand King Shag (Leucocarbo carunculatus)](/wiki-image/1080/153405872393945130.jpeg)
![](/wiki-static/name/4235f29e1de7f26452173dd4a37c7712/website/img/icon/field_icons/icon_scientific_spieces@2x.png)
Scientific Classification
![](/wiki-static/name/4235f29e1de7f26452173dd4a37c7712/website/img/icon/icon_arrow_description@3x.png)
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Gannets and Relatives Family
Cormorants Genus
Cormorant Species
New Zealand King Shag