New Zealand Shags Cormorants
Across the world there are three dozen species of cormorants, including the New Zealand species named as shags. 12 of the 36 species live on and around the islands of New Zealand, 8 of which are endemic to NZ.
Spotted Shags, Parekareka, Kawau tikitiki. Stictocarbo punctatus. Juvenile and Adult Birds, Curio Bay Cliffs, Catlins, South Island, New Zealand
You can’t fail to see at least some New Zealand shags as the more common species are all over the country and can be seen on or around beaches, rocks, cliffs, rivers, estuaries, and inland they inhabit some freshwater lakes too.
The outline of shags is iconic, whether perched or resting, drying their outstretched wings, or flying along straight and low above water or land.
Adult Pied Shag / Cormorant Bird, Kāruhiruhi, Karuhiruhi, Kawau. Phalacrocorax varius. Takitimu Drive Walkway, Tauranga Harbour Estuary, North Island, New Zealand
New Zealand Shags Species List
The species you are most likely to see are Pied Shag, Little Shag, Spotted Shag, Little Black Shag, and Black Shag. Scroll down for full list.
Adult Little Shag / Little Cormorant Bird, Kawau Paka. Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocorax melanoleucos. Tauranga Harbour Estuary, Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand
If you hope to see New Zealand King Shags you have to get on a boat at the top of the South Island as they are a rare species of cormorant only found in Marlborough Sounds. Wildlife tours can be taken from Picton that include a visit to the NZ King Shag colony.
Little Black Shag / Little Black Cormorant Bird. Kawau tūi, Kawau tui. Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocorax sulcirostris. Takitimu Drive Walkway, Tauranga Estuary, Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand
This list is alphabetical and in no particular order whether common or rare species.
Phalacrocoracidae is the family name of all the bird species known as cormorants and shags.
Auckland Island Shag - Leucocarbo colensoi
Conservation: Vulnerable
Other Common Names: Auckland Island Shag, Auckland Island Cormorant.
Black Shag - Phalacrocorax carbo
Conservation: Uncommon
Common Names: Black Shag, Black Cormorant, Kawau, Large Black Shag, Great Cormorant.
Bounty Island shag - Leucocarbo ranfurlyi
Conservation: Uncommon
Common Names: Bounty Island Shag, Bounty Island Cormorant.
Campbell Island Shag - Leucocarbo campbelli
Conservation: Uncommon
Common Names: Campbell Island Shag, Campbell Island cormorant.
Chatham Island Shag - Leucocarbo onslowi
Conservation: Nationally Critical
Common Names: Chatham Island Shag, Chatham Island Cormorant, Chatham Shag.
Little Black Shag - Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Conservation: Uncommon
Common Names: Little Black Shag, Little Black Cormorant, Kawau tūi, Kawau tui.
Little Shag - Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
Conservation: Not Threatened
Common Names: Little Shag, Kawau Paka, Little Cormorant, White-throated Shag, Little Pied Shag, Little Pied Cormorant.
Macquarie Island Shag - Leucocarbo purpurascens
Conservation: Not known
Common Names: Macquarie Island Shag, Macquarie Island Cormorant.
New Zealand King Shag - Leucocarbo carunculatus
Conservation: Nationally Endangered
Common Names: New Zealand King Shag, Kawau, New Zealand King Cormorant, King Shag, Marlborough Sounds Shag, Cook Strait Cormorant, Carunculated Shag.
Pied Shag - Phalacrocorax varius
Conservation: Recovering
Common Names: Pied Shag, Pied Cormorant, Kāruhiruhi, Karuhiruhi, Kawau, Large Pied Shag, Yellow-faced Cormorant.
Pitt Island Shag - Stictocarbo featherstoni
Conservation: Critical
Common Names: Pitt Island Shag, Pitt Island Cormorant, Pitt shag.
Spotted Shag - Stictocarbo punctatus
Conservation: Not Threatened
Common Names: Spotted Shag, Spotted Cormorant, Parekareka, Kawau tikitiki, Blue Shag (a southern subspecies).
Stewart Island Shag - Leucocarbo chalconotus
Conservation: Recovering
Common Names: Stewart Island Shag, Kawau, Stewart Island Cormorant, Bronze Shag, Gray’s Shag, Otago Shag, Foveaux Shag.
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List of native New Zealand bird species and a list of wildlife in and around New Zealand
New Zealand Shag Conservation and Law
At the time of writing, and from what I can determine, all species of New Zealand Shags are protected by law except the Little Shag and the Black Shag. It appears to me that the Fish and Game Council are allowed to kill these two species if a shag has either injured or eaten fish from a sport fish facility, or they are within 200 metres of such a facility. Following killing of shag the Fish and Game Council then has to record and report the killing to the Director-General at the office of the Department of Conservation. I read the above information in the Wildlife (Black Shag and Little Shag) Notice 2012, which may be subject to change.
The public are not permitted to kill or capture species of New Zealand Shag / Cormorant.
If you should see an injured shag, cormorant, please report it to the Department of Conservation so that they can arrange for the bird to receive treatment and/or record the injury. This is definitely important if it should be one of the uncommon or rare species, but also for any of the species in case the injury should reveal a lot of birds getting injured or killed in the same area which in turn can be prevented, such as dog attacks etc.
Cormorants Across in the World
Here is a link to a recommended video produced by Avi Birds that includes some interesting information about Cormorants in general. The video is well worth watching.
Avi Birds video about Cormorants https://youtu.be/N0F1rUF0HNI
Group of Little Shags / Little Cormorants, Kawau Paka, Juvenile and Adult Birds with Different Plumage. Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocorax melanoleucos. Port of Napier, Hawkes's Bay, NZ