Rough-faced Shag vs Japanese Cormorant
Leucocarbo carunculatus compared with Phalacrocorax capillatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rough-faced Shag | Japanese Cormorant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Leucocarbo carunculatus | Phalacrocorax capillatus |
| Order | Suliformes | Suliformes |
| Family | Phalacrocoracidae | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 57.6 cm (22.7 in) | 62.9 cm (24.8 in) |
| Weight | 2577.5 g (90.92 oz) | 2837.5 g (100.09 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-3 | 4-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Vulnerable
Rough-faced Shag
Least Concern
Japanese Cormorant
About These Birds
Rough-faced Shag
65–70 cm. Black above; white below; prominent orange-red facial caruncles. Endemic to Cook Strait area, New Zealand. Vulnerable; small fragmented population. Feeds on fish and invertebrates in coastal waters. Colonial nester on cliff ledges; distinct from other New Zealand shags.
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.