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Phalacrocoracidae - Cormorants, Shags

There are 35 species of medium to large birds in this family. They are found in temperate and tropical environments around the world.

Cormorants and shags live on lakes, rivers, marshes, swamps, and ocean shorelines. Most species are black with a bare face. They have a long neck and a long, thin, hooked bill. Males and females look alike, but males are usually larger.

Unlike most water birds, the feathers of the birds in this family don’t have the waterproofing oil found in most water birds. Cormorants and shags dry their feathers by perching and holding out their wings.

Cormorants and shags dive from the water’s surface for fish. In some countries in Asia, fishermen train cormorants to catch fish for them.

Cormorants and shags nest in colonies, and both the male and the female care for and feed the chicks.

  • The European shag is found in Albania, Algeria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Libya, Macedonia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the U.K. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    European Shag
    (Gulosus aristotelis)
    The European shag is found in Albania, Algeria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Libya, Macedonia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the U.K. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Imperial shag is found in Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Falkland Islands, French Southern Territories, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, South Africa, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Imperial Shag
    (Leucocarbo atriceps)
    The Imperial shag is found in Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Falkland Islands, French Southern Territories, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, South Africa, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Guanay cormorant is found in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Guanay Cormorant
    (Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum)
    The Guanay cormorant is found in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The Campbell Island shag is found on Campbell Island in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Campbell Island Shag
    (Leucocarbo campbelli)
    The Campbell Island shag is found on Campbell Island in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The rough-faced shag, also known as the New Zealand king shag, is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status:: Vulnerable
    Rough-Faced Shag
    (Leucocarbo carunculatus)
    The rough-faced shag, also known as the New Zealand king shag, is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status:: Vulnerable
  • The Stewart Island shag is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Stewart Island Shag
    (Leucocarbo chalconotus)
    The Stewart Island shag is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The Auckland Islands shag is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Auckland Islands Shag
    (Leucocarbo colensoi)
    The Auckland Islands shag is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The rock shag is found in Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Rock Shag
    (Leucocarbo magellanicus)
    The rock shag is found in Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Chatham Islands shag is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
    Chatham Islands Shag
    (Leucocarbo onslowi)
    The Chatham Islands shag is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
  • The Bounty Islands shag is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Bounty Islands Shag
    (Leucocarbo ranfurlyi)
    The Bounty Islands shag is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The Kerguelen Islands shag is found in the French Southern Territories. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Kerguelen Islands Shag
    (Leucocarbo verrucosus)
    The Kerguelen Islands shag is found in the French Southern Territories. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The reed cormorant, also known as the long-tailed cormorant, is found in Africa south of the Sahara. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Reed Cormorant
    (Microcarbo africanus)
    The reed cormorant, also known as the long-tailed cormorant, is found in Africa south of the Sahara. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The little pied cormorant is found in Australia, Indonesia, Japan, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Little Pied Cormorant
    (Microcarbo melanoleucos)
    The little pied cormorant is found in Australia, Indonesia, Japan, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The little cormorant is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Little Cormorant
    (Microcarbo niger)
    The little cormorant is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Pygmy cormorant breeds in southeast Europe and winters in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Pygmy Cormorant
    (Microcarbo pygmaeus)
    The Pygmy cormorant breeds in southeast Europe and winters in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The double-crested cormorant is found from the coasts of Alaska and Nova Scotia south to Mexico and the Bahamas. It winters on both coasts north to southern Alaska and southern New England. It breeds in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Double-Crested Cormorant
    (Nannopterum auritum)
    The double-crested cormorant is found from the coasts of Alaska and Nova Scotia south to Mexico and the Bahamas. It winters on both coasts north to southern Alaska and southern New England. It breeds in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The neotropic cormorant is found from northern Arisona, Texas, and Louisiana south to South America. It is also found in the Caribbean. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Neotropic Cormorant
    (Nannopterum brasilianum)
    The neotropic cormorant is found from northern Arisona, Texas, and Louisiana south to South America. It is also found in the Caribbean. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The flightless cormorant has tiny wings and is the only flightless cormorant. It is found on the Galápagos Islands. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Flightless Cormorant
    (Nannopterum harrisi)
    The flightless cormorant has tiny wings and is the only flightless cormorant. It is found on the Galápagos Islands. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The Cape cormorant is found in Congo, Mozambiqu, Namibia, and South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
    Cape Cormorant
    (Phalacrocorax capensis)
    The Cape cormorant is found in Congo, Mozambiqu, Namibia, and South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
  • The Japanese cormorant is found in China, Japan, North and South Korea, Russia, Taiwan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Japanese Cormorant
    (Phalacrocorax capillatus)
    The Japanese cormorant is found in China, Japan, North and South Korea, Russia, Taiwan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The great cormorant is found on every continent, except for South America and Antarctica. In North America it breeds from Maine to Greenland and winters from Labrador, Canada to Florida. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Great Cormorant
    (Phalacrocorax carbo)
    The great cormorant is found on every continent, except for South America and Antarctica. In North America it breeds from Maine to Greenland and winters from Labrador, Canada to Florida. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Pitt Island Shag is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Endandered
    Pitt Island Shag
    (Phalacrocorax featherstoni)
    The Pitt Island Shag is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Endandered
  • The black-faced cormorant is found in Australia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Black-Faced Cormorant
    (Phalacrocorax fuscescens)
    The black-faced cormorant is found in Australia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Indian cormorant is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Indian Cormorant
    (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis)
    The Indian cormorant is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The bank cormorant is found along the coast of Africa from Namibia to South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
    Bank Cormorant
    (Phalacrocorax neglectus)
    The bank cormorant is found along the coast of Africa from Namibia to South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
  • The Socotra cormorant is found in Bahrain, Eritrea, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Socotra Cormorant
    (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis)
    The Socotra cormorant is found in Bahrain, Eritrea, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The spotted shag is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Spotted Shag
    (Phalacrocorax punctatus)
    The spotted shag is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The little black cormorant is found in Australia, Indonesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Little Black Cormorant
    (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)
    The little black cormorant is found in Australia, Indonesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The great pied cormorant is found in Australia and New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Great Pied Cormorant
    (Phalacrocorax varius)
    The great pied cormorant is found in Australia and New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The red-legged cormorant is found in Argentina, Chile, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Red-Legged Cormorant
    (Poikilocarbo gaimardi)
    The red-legged cormorant is found in Argentina, Chile, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The pelagic cormorant is found from the coast of Alaska south to the coast of California. It is also found in Japan, North and South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Russia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Pelagic Cormorant
    (Urile pelagicus)
    The pelagic cormorant is found from the coast of Alaska south to the coast of California. It is also found in Japan, North and South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Russia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Brandt's cormorant is found on the Pacific Coast from Alaska south to the coast of Baja California, Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Brandt's Cormorant
    (Urile penicillatus)
    Brandt's cormorant is found on the Pacific Coast from Alaska south to the coast of Baja California, Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The red-faced cormorant is found in the north Pacific in Japan and Russia and in North America from the Aleutian Islands to southern Alaska. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Red-Faced Cormorant
    (Urile urile)
    The red-faced cormorant is found in the north Pacific in Japan and Russia and in North America from the Aleutian Islands to southern Alaska. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern

Did You Know?

World Status Key

Status and range is taken from IUCN Redlist

Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct
Not Enough Data

U.S. Status Key

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife

Threatened in US
Endangered in US
Introduced

NH Status Key

Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Threatened in NH
Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH (birds)

Location Key

Africa
Asia
Australia/Oceania
Europe
North/Central America
south america alt
South America

New Hampshire Species

Double-crested Cormorant - Nannopterum auritusLeast ConcernNorth/Central America

Other Species Around the World

No animals found.

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