Shag id help please

[Jim Kirker]

This shag was at Mangatangi dam this afternoon and I favour leucistic Pied or Black Shag because there is a yellowish area at the base of the bill and the tail looks relatively short. Very poor photo but hopefully enough for a confident id.

[Oscar Thomas]

Hi Jim,

Looks good for an immature Black Shag. Curious as to why you think it's leucistic and not just the bright sunlight washing out the black? Maybe you had to see it in person.

Oscar

[Jim Kirker]

Hi Oscar,
Too far for me too see well even with binoculars, so I based an opinion on photos. I think the sharp border between the black neck and "trousers" and the adjacent plumage is probably real because I would expect a washing out effect to be less well defined, but I could be wrong. Thanks for raising the possibilty.
Jim

[Jim Kirker]

Hi Oscar,
The Wikipedia article on the Great cormorant has a photo of an immature bird in Uganda which looks like the one I saw yesterday and convinces me you are correct - it even shows the light effect on the plumage.
Jim

[Oscar Thomas]

Good stuff, always open to second opinions too.