Birds · Suliformes · Phalacrocoracidae

Imperial Shag

Leucocarbo atriceps

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The imperial shag is a striking seabird of the southern cone of the Americas and the subantarctic islands, with a blue-black back, a white belly and orange caruncles at the base of the bill during the breeding season. It breeds in dense colonies on islets and cliffs and dives to considerable depth in pursuit of bottom-dwelling fish. Its taxonomy is the subject of constant debate: the blue-eyed shag complex of the southern hemisphere is split into more or fewer species depending on the author.

Weight

1.8 kg – 3.5 kg

Size

68 cm – 76 cm

Lifespan

15 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanPolarIslandsCarnivore Diurnal Colonial Bird Ocean Polar Islands

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Fun facts

It dives to more than sixty metres and stays under for as long as five minutes, extraordinary figures for a bird whose plumage is not waterproof and which comes out of the water soaked.
Its plumage does not repel water, and that apparent disadvantage is in fact useful: by trapping no air, the bird is less buoyant and dives with far less effort.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Rocky coasts, islets and inshore waters of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and the subantarctic islands
Sexual maturity: 3 years
Gestation / incubation: 30 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 3 eggs

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/