The Falkland Islands and South Atlantic
KING OR IMPERIAL CORMORANT Phalacrocorax atriceps albiventer

KING OR IMPERIAL CORMORANT Phalacrocorax atriceps albiventer

  • King-Shag-tracy

King shags are Falkland common residents, Falklands 'King Shag' where they breed in crowded level cliff-top colonies, often alongside Rockhopper penguins, Black-browed albatross or Gentoo penguins. Length: 72cm (28 inches). They are easily separated from Rock Shags by their white chin extending to the breast, and blue eye-ring. King shags favour open waters, going further offshore than rock shags to around 12 km in the summer and 37 km from June to October, (White) where they forage in small flocks. Diet is fish and crustaceans by shallow diving, small fish generally being taken for chick-rearing.

P atriceps albiventer is restricted to the Falkland Islands. Other distinctive races of Phalacrocorax atriceps have a circumpolar range and are found on southern coasts of Chile and Argentina from around 40°S, through Tierra del Fuego tas far south as South Georgia, South Shetlands and other sub Antarctic islands to around 65°S.

 

  • king-shags-jeremy-richards
 

 

 

 

 


Sources include: Falkland Islands State of the Environment Report 2008 Otley H, Munro G, Clausen A, Ingham B. A Field Guide to the Wildlife of The Falkland Islands and South Georgia - Ian J Strange, Guide to Birds of the Falkland Islands- Robin W. Woods.
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