European Shag vs Imperial Shag
Gulosus aristotelis compared with Leucocarbo atriceps
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | European Shag | Imperial Shag |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gulosus aristotelis | Leucocarbo atriceps |
| Order | Suliformes | Suliformes |
| Family | Phalacrocoracidae | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 52.5 cm (20.7 in) | 59.1 cm (23.3 in) |
| Weight | 1777.25 g (62.69 oz) | 2294.6666666666665 g (80.94 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-6 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
European Shag
Least Concern
Imperial Shag
About These Birds
European Shag
68–78 cm, wingspan 95–110 cm. All-black with glossy green; short erect crest in breeding; yellow gape. Strictly marine; breeds on rocky coasts of western Europe and Mediterranean. Feeds on fish by diving in clear coastal waters. Vulnerable; threatened by oil spills and overfishing.
Imperial Shag
72 cm. Black above; white below; vivid orange-yellow caruncles and blue orbital ring. Breeds circumpolar southern South America, Falklands, and Antarctic Peninsula. Feeds on fish and invertebrates in cold Southern Ocean inshore waters. Diverse complex of closely related southern shag species.