Antarctic Shag vs Heard Shag

Leucocarbo bransfieldensis compared with Leucocarbo nivalis

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Antarctic Shag Heard Shag
Scientific Name Leucocarbo bransfieldensis Leucocarbo nivalis
Order Suliformes Suliformes
Family Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocoracidae
Conservation Status Not Evaluated Not Evaluated
Length — —
Wingspan — —
Weight 2780.0 g (98.06 oz) 2931.0 g (103.39 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 2-3 2-4
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Antarctic Shag only

None

Heard Shag only

Conservation Status

Not Evaluated

Antarctic Shag

Not Evaluated

Heard Shag

About These Birds

Antarctic Shag

63–72 cm. Black above; white below; caruncles reduced compared to related shags. Breeds on the Antarctic Peninsula and associated islands. Feeds on fish in cold Antarctic coastal waters. One of the southernmost-breeding cormorants; largely sedentary around breeding colonies.

Heard Shag

63 cm. Black above; white below; orange caruncles. Endemic to Heard Island and McDonald Islands, remote Australian sub-Antarctic territory. Vulnerable; population of only a few thousand in a very restricted range. Feeds on fish and invertebrates in cold surrounding ocean.

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