Shag

This is a medium-large black bird, 68 to 78 cm (27 to 31 in) long and with a 95-to-110-centimetre (37 to 43 in) wingspan. It has a longish tail and yellow throat-patch. Adults have a small crest in the breeding season. It is distinguished from the great cormorant by its smaller size, lighter build, thinner bill, and, in breeding adults, by the crest and metallic green-tinged sheen on the feathers. Among those differences are that a shag has a lighter, narrower beak; and the juvenile shag has darker underparts. The European shag's tail has 12 feathers, the great cormorant's 14 feathers. The green sheen on the feathers results in the alternative name green cormorant sometimes being given to the European shag.

Latin Name
Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Photos

When the bird was spotted

Date Location Title Seen by Interestingness
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors so b.m.stokesley ***
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors South Gare b.m.stokesley ***
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors South Gare b.m.stokesley *
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors South Gare b.m.stokesley ***
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors NorthGare b.m.stokesley ***
Greece, Kalymnos On the balcony in Masouri mike421 *
UK, Farne Islands Breeding on the cliffs on Staple island mike421 **