Bounty Shag
NameBounty Shag
Common NameBounty Shag
Scientific NameLeucocarbo ranfurlyi
FamilyPhalacrocoracidae
Wingspan (cm)95
Length (cm)69.5
Weight (g)2250
Plumage DetailsAdults have glossy black plumage on their upperparts, head, and neck, contrasting sharply with pure white underparts. They often display a small black crest on the forehead. The bill is dark, complemented by distinctive orange-yellow bare skin around the eye and at the base of the bill, while their legs and feet are pinkish.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent when at sea, Bounty Shags become more vocal at their breeding colonies. They produce a range of guttural grunts and croaks, particularly during courtship displays or when disturbed by intruders.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeThe Bounty Shag is endemic to the Bounty Islands, a small, uninhabited group of subantarctic granite islets located southeast of New Zealand in the Pacific Ocean.
Identifying FeaturesBlack upperparts and white underparts, Orange-yellow bare facial skin around the eye and bill base, Small black crest on the forehead, Pinkish legs and feet, Restricted to the Bounty Islands
Description
The Bounty Shag is a medium-sized, striking black and white marine bird endemic to the remote Bounty Islands. It is a skilled diver, foraging for fish and marine invertebrates in the coastal waters surrounding its rocky island habitat. This species spends most of its life at sea, returning to the islands only to breed.
