The Auckland shag or Auckland Islands shag (Leucocarbo colensoi) is a species of cormorant from New Zealand. The species is endemic to the Auckland Islands archipelago. It is a sedentary bird that primarily eats various crustaceans and fish. In recent years, roughly 1,000 pairs have been recorded. The Auckland shag is a colonial nester, building sizeable nests of, among other items, grass, twigs and seaweed. The Auckland shag lays three pale blue-green eggs in November–February. The incubation period is 26–32 days.
| Auckland shag | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Suliformes |
| Family: | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Genus: | Leucocarbo |
| Species: | L. colensoi
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| Binomial name | |
| Leucocarbo colensoi (Buller, 1888)
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| Synonyms | |
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Phalacrocorax colensoi | |
The Auckland shag is considered Vulnerable by the IUCN due to its small population size and restricted global range.
Some taxonomic authorities, including the International Ornithologists' Union, place this species in the genus Leucocarbo. Others place it in the genus Phalacrocorax.
The specific epithet of this bird commemorates the naturalist William Colenso.
References
edit- ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Leucocarbo colensoi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22696869A133556641. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22696869A133556641.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- Shirihai, Hadoram (2002). A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife. Degerby, Finland: Alula Press. ISBN 951-98947-0-5.
- Auckland Islands Shag (Phalacrocorax colensoi) – BirdLife International