Birds
Auckland Shag
Leucocarbo colensoi · also called Auckland Island shag
Diving to considerable depths for bottom-dwelling fish along one of the least visited coastlines in the Southern Ocean, an Auckland shag breeds nowhere else on Earth except the remote subantarctic islands that give it its name.
Overview
The Auckland shag, Leucocarbo colensoi, is a Near Threatened seabird native to ocean and coastal habitat found only around the Auckland Islands south of New Zealand. Its extremely restricted single-island-group range, striking blue eye-ring, and considerable diving ability make it one of the more geographically confined blue-eyed shag species found anywhere in the Southern Ocean.
A shag confined to one remote corner
Few seabirds live their entire lives within such a narrow stretch of coastline as the Auckland shag, whose complete world population depends on the continued health of a single, rarely visited subantarctic island group far south of the New Zealand mainland.
Status
Near Threatened, remaining relatively stable at a low level, though confined entirely to the Auckland Islands, leaving it vulnerable to any localised threat.
Auckland Shag: common questions
Where does the Auckland shag breed?
This species breeds only around the Auckland Islands, a remote and rarely visited subantarctic island group south of New Zealand, rather than a wider range.
Why is the Auckland shag called a blue-eyed shag?
This species has a vivid ring of bare, blue-coloured skin around each eye, a feature shared with several closely related shag species collectively nicknamed blue-eyed shags.
How deep can the Auckland shag dive?
This species can dive to considerable depth in pursuit of fish, using its feet for propulsion underwater rather than relying primarily on its wings, a diving style typical of shags generally.
Why is the Auckland shag considered Near Threatened?
This species has a relatively small total population confined entirely to a single remote island group, leaving it vulnerable to any localised threat despite its numbers remaining stable.