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Kawaupaka, the little shag


little shag
 

There are three sub species of the little shag, melanoleucas which breeds in Australia, Palau, Indonesia, New Guinea, New Caledonia and Solomon Islands, except Renell Island, where brevicauda is endemic. brevirostris breeds in New Zealand only.

It was first described by Vieillot in 1817 from specimens in New South Wales and was collected at the Bay of Islands in New Zealand by the naturalists of the Erebus and Terror Expedition in 1841.

 
little shag
 
 
 
 
 
Taxonomy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Pelecaniformes
Family:Phalacrocoracidae
Genera:Phalacrocorax
Species:melanoleucos
Sub Species:brevirostris

Other common names:  — 
Little pied cormorant.

Description:  — 
Native bird
56 cm., 700 g., smallest shag, variable plumage from all black to pied, short stubby bills, yellow in adults, dark in juveniles, feet black, yellow facial skin.

Where to find:  — 
Widespread and common throughout New Zealand.


Credit for the photograph: — 

Illustration description: — 
Gould, John, Birds of Australia, 1840-48

Browinowski, Baron G.J., Birds of Australia, 1887 - 1891.

Reference(s): — 
Heather, B., & Robertson, H., Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand, 2000.

Oliver, W.R.B. New Zealand Birds, 1955.

Page date & version: — 
Tuesday, February 5, 2008; ver200506
© 2005Narena Olliver,  new zealand birds limited ,  Greytown, New Zealand.
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