Head to head
Imperial Shag vs Cormorant
Imperial Shag
VS Cormorant
The imperial shag is itself a member of the cormorant family, so this comparison sets one striking species against the broader family overview.
| Imperial Shag | Cormorant | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Leucocarbo atriceps | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Classification level | A single specific species | A family of around 40 species |
| Distinguishing feature | A striking blue ring around each eye | Wettable feathers dried by spreading the wings |
| Diving style | Foot-propelled pursuit diving | Foot-propelled pursuit diving across the family |
| Range | Sub-Antarctic islands and southern South America | Nearly every continent and coastline worldwide |
| Notable trait | Not documented as trained for fishing | Trained for fishing by people in China and Japan |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern (most species) |
| Habitat | Ocean, coastal | Coastal, ocean, wetlands |
Imperial Shag vs Cormorant: common questions
Is the imperial shag part of the broader cormorant family?
Yes, the imperial shag is a specific species within the cormorant family, Phalacrocoracidae, sharing the same foot-propelled diving and wettable-feather adaptations found across the wider family.
Which one has a distinctive blue eye-ring?
The imperial shag is the one with this feature, a vivid ring of bare blue skin around each eye, a striking trait not found broadly across every species in the wider cormorant family.
Has either been trained by people to fish?
The broader cormorant family has this history, with cormorant fishing a centuries-old tradition in China and Japan using trained birds, a practice not specifically documented for the imperial shag.