European Shag

About the European Shag

Also known as: Common Shag

The European Shag or Common Shag is a type of cormorant that breeds on rocky coats in western and southern Europe, southwest Asia and northern Africa. In Britain it is known as just the Shag.

It is one of the deepest divers in the cormorant family, able to dive to depths of up to 150 feet (45 meters). They eat a wide range of fish, with their favorite meal being the sand eel.

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Details & Statistics

Added to Birdorable
Hatched on 09 December 2008
Scientific Name
Phalacrocorax aristotelis
  • Pelecaniformes
  • Phalacrocoracidae
  • Phalacrocorax
  • P. aristotelis
Birdorable Family
Conservation Status
Least Concern (as of 6 April 2020)
LC
  • Least Concern (LC)
  • Near Threatened (NT)
  • Vulnerable (VU)
  • Endangered (EN)
  • Critically Endangered (CR)
  • Extinct in the Wild (EW)
  • Extinct (EX)
Source: IUCN Red List
Measurements
Units: Imperial / Metric
27 to 30 inches
37 to 43 inches

Range

International Names

Czech (Cesky) Kormorán
Danish (Dansk) Topskarv
Dutch (Nederlands) Kuifaalscholver
Finnish (Suomi) Karimetso
French (Français) Cormoran Huppé
German (Deutsch) Krähenscharbe
Italian (Italiano) Marangone dal Ciuffo
Japanese (日本語) ヨアロッパヒメウ (Yo-roppahimeu)
Norwegian (Norsk) Toppskarv
Polish (Polski) Kormoran Zzubaty
Russian (русский язык) Баклан хохлатый
Spanish (Español) Cormor´n Moñudo
Swedish (Svenska) Toppskarv
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Introducing The Shag

Introducing The Shag

Our 154th Birdorable bird and the answer to the last Spot the Birdorable is the European Shag. This cute cormorant can be found across Europe, northern Africa and south Asia. Shags are ... more