Little black shag? Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

General birdwatching discussion, help with bird identification, and all other things relating to wild birds and birding in NZ that don't fit in one of the other forums.
Nick Smith
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Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2019 4:50 am

Little black shag? Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

Postby Nick Smith » Fri Jan 11, 2019 5:53 am

Hi, having got very quick response to my question about Otago shag I started to wonder what species these are. Again, rather unquestioningly I 'dismissed' them as Little shag but the dark form but on revisiting my photos I'm not convinced. Dark bill and no obvious white on them anywhere.
Could they be Little black shag? Photographed in Christchurch Botanic Gardens on 28th October 2017, in trees above a pond (not Victoria lake -from memory)
If not LBS, any suggestions please.
IMG_6350 Shag sp small image.jpg
IMG_6350 Shag sp small image.jpg (564.96 KiB) Viewed 2142 times
IMG_6351 Shag sp small image.jpg
IMG_6351 Shag sp small image.jpg (481.34 KiB) Viewed 2142 times


Thanks in advance
Nick
andrewcrossland
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Re: Little black shag? Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

Postby andrewcrossland » Fri Jan 11, 2019 8:00 am

Its a juvenile Little Cororant (Little Pied Shag), note the short, stubby bill.
cheers
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Adam C
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Re: Little black shag? Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

Postby Adam C » Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:11 am

Not sure about immatures but adult little blacks have quite fetching blue/green eyes too. But yip the bill on little blacks is more like a pied shag. Much longer. Tail also shorter but not apparent unless sitting amoungst littles. Great place Andrew C above put me onto for them in Christchurch is Lake Kate Sheppard just South of Bexley wetlands. I thinks its probably the only place you can reliably see them as thats where they roost.

Think the Christchurch population is literally only about 10-12 birds but Andrew might have more info on that.
“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”

Samuel Ullman
andrewcrossland
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Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:29 pm
Location: Christchurch

Re: Little black shag? Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

Postby andrewcrossland » Fri Jan 11, 2019 9:30 pm

Our census counts indicate that the CHCH pop (as far as I know, still the only breeding pop in the South Island?) is about 30 birds.
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Adam C
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Re: Little black shag? Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

Postby Adam C » Sat Jan 12, 2019 11:35 pm

More than I thought. Numbers slowly, steadily climbing each year?
“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”

Samuel Ullman
Nick Smith
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Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2019 4:50 am

Re: Little black shag? Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

Postby Nick Smith » Sun Jan 13, 2019 2:29 am

Thanks for the replies. Looks like I'll have to return to NZ to see those birds I missed!
Excellent forum BTW, very useful.

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