Antarctic Shag vs Japanese Cormorant

Leucocarbo bransfieldensis compared with Phalacrocorax capillatus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Antarctic Shag Japanese Cormorant
Scientific Name Leucocarbo bransfieldensis Phalacrocorax capillatus
Order Suliformes Suliformes
Family Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocoracidae
Conservation Status Not Evaluated Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 62.9 cm (24.8 in)
Weight 2780.0 g (98.06 oz) 2837.5 g (100.09 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 2-3 4-5
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Antarctic Shag only

None

Japanese Cormorant only

None

Conservation Status

Not Evaluated

Antarctic Shag

Least Concern

Japanese Cormorant

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.

Japanese Cormorant

84 cm. Large; black with white facial spots and white flanks in breeding; yellow gape. Breeds on rocky coasts of Japan, Korea, and northeastern China. Resident; feeds on fish in cold Pacific waters. Trained for cormorant fishing (ukai) in Japan for centuries.

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