Birds
South Georgia Shag
Leucocarbo georgianus · also called South Georgia cormorant
Diving to considerable depths for bottom-dwelling fish and flashing bright orange caruncles during the breeding season, a South Georgia shag never leaves the waters around a single remote island group that it calls home year-round.
Overview
The South Georgia shag, Leucocarbo georgianus, is a Least Concern seabird native to ocean and coastal habitat around South Georgia and nearby islands in the Southern Ocean. Its endemic single-island range, striking blue-eyed appearance, and deep-diving foraging technique make it one of the more geographically distinctive shag species found anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere.
A resident that never needs to leave
While many Southern Ocean seabirds migrate thousands of kilometres between breeding seasons, the South Georgia shag has no need to, staying within the same productive island waters year-round and relying on deep dives rather than long journeys to find enough food.
Status
Least Concern, remaining stable across its limited island range, benefiting from the remoteness of its breeding sites and the productivity of the surrounding Southern Ocean waters.
South Georgia Shag: common questions
Where is the South Georgia shag found?
This species breeds only around South Georgia and a small number of nearby islands, making it endemic to a single remote corner of the Southern Ocean rather than a wider range.
Why is the South Georgia shag called a blue-eyed shag?
This species has a vivid blue ring of bare skin around each eye, a feature shared with several closely related shag species that are collectively nicknamed blue-eyed shags.
How deep can the South Georgia shag dive?
This species is capable of diving to considerable depths in pursuit of bottom-dwelling fish and invertebrates, far deeper than many other seabirds sharing the same waters are able to reach.
Does the South Georgia shag migrate?
No, this species remains in the same waters around South Georgia year-round rather than migrating long distances, unlike many other seabirds that travel widely between breeding seasons.