European Shag vs Spectacled Cormorant
Gulosus aristotelis compared with Urile perspicillatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | European Shag | Spectacled Cormorant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gulosus aristotelis | Urile perspicillatus |
| Order | Suliformes | Suliformes |
| Family | Phalacrocoracidae | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Extinct |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 52.5 cm (20.7 in) | — |
| Weight | 1777.25 g (62.69 oz) | — |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-6 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
European Shag
Extinct
Spectacled Cormorant
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.
Spectacled Cormorant
Extinct; last recorded in 1850 on Bering Island. Very large; dark green-black with white spectacle marks. Flightless or near-flightless. Endemic to Bering Sea islands; exterminated within decades of discovery by Russian fur traders hunting for food. One of the few recently extinct cormorants.