For the species from South America, Antarctica and southern ocean islands that sometimes is known as the King Shag, see Imperial Shag.

The King Shag (Phalacrocorax carunculatus), also known as New Zealand King Shag or Rough-faced Shag, is a rare bird endemic to New Zealand.

Description

It is a large (76cm long, 2.5 kg in weight) black and white cormorant with pink feet. White patches on the wings appear as bars when the wings are folded. Yellow-orange swellings (caruncules) are found above the base of the bill. The grey gular pouch is reddish in the breeding season. A blue eye-ring indicates its kinship with the other blue-eyed shags.

Habitat

King Shags live in the coastal waters of the Marlborough Sounds. They can be seen from the Cook Strait Ferry in Queen Charlotte Sound opposite the beginning of the Troy Channel.