Fun Imperial Shag Facts For Kids

The imperial shag bird, Phalacrocorax atriceps, belongs to the species of birds coming from the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters.

These birds are commonly seen in the surrounding islands of sea coasts, foraging for food, and are also called blue-eyed shags. Unlike the other species of cormorants coming from the temperate and tropical regions, the imperial shag is a bird that does not dry its wings by spreading them after a dive.

This is a result of its cold habitat that makes the bird avoid any activity that would result in heat loss.

The bird is usually 26.7-30 in (68-76 cm) with a wingspan of 48.8 in (124 cm). Most adults have a white and black body and a black crest with shiny feathers. There is a distinct crown on its head with a black and brown nape and forecrown.

The face is half black and white in color while their legs and feet are pink. There is a bright orange growth between its eyes. Their diet mainly consists of fish.

The range of species occurs in the southern coast of Argentina, Chile, and America where it is found in the Falkland Islands and similar South American locations. They are a freshwater breed that usually nests in colonies as well as hunts together.

The males are very loud in nature and aggressive than the females when threatened during the breeding season.

If you like reading about birds then we suggest you check out our European robin facts and great cormorant facts!

Imperial Shag Interesting Facts

What type of animal is an imperial shag?

The imperial shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps) is a type of bird from the family of cormorants under the genus Phalacrocorax.

What class of animal does an imperial shag belong to?

The imperial shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps) belongs to the Aves clas.

How many imperial shags are there in the world?

Blue-eyed shags have a fluctuating population with an estimated 340,000-1,400,000 individuals present, with 60,000 breeding pairs in the Falkland Islands off the coast of South America. 

Where does an imperial shag live?

An imperial shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps) is usually found around the rocky coastal regions, inland lakes, freshwater lagoons, sea coasts surrounding Antarctic waters, South America, and the southern coasts of Chile, and Argentina, specifically the Falkland Islands.  

What is an imperial shag's habitat?

Blue-eyed shag's (Atriceps bransfieldensis) habitat consists of rocky coastal regions, lagoons, freshwaters, inland lakes, and areas of surrounding sea coasts. They can also be located in grasslands and savannas within the temperature of 73.4 F (23 C).

The birds are seen as high as 2624.6 ft (800 m) altitude on rocky regions surrounding the shores and in areas of shrubs where they can get a clear view of their predators and hunt fish. The nesting colonies range from 118.11-787.4 in (3-20 m) above high tide lines.

Who do imperial shags live with?

The imperial shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps) is a sociable breed of bird, often seen in large flocks hunting fish.

How long does an imperial shag live?

The average life expectancy of an imperial shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps) is estimated to be about 10-15 years.

How do they reproduce?

Blue-eyed shags are monogamous in nature and will stay with their partners for a long time. The breeding season begins from October-November where they form large colonies with other birds like king penguins and seabirds.

Their nests are placed on top of rocks and are made with plant materials, seaweed, excreta, and mud.

They reuse their nests every year where the female lays two to five eggs, and both adults take turns to incubate the eggs for 28 days. The chicks are taken care of by their parents after they hatch and are usually able to fly after 75-80 days.

What is their conservation status?

Blue-eyed shags are not considered to be an endangered species and are listed as of Least Concern, according to the IUCN Red List. 

Imperial Shag Fun Facts

What do imperial shags look like?

The imperial shag (blue-eyed shag) has shiny black feathers in most parts of its body with a white neck and belly. It has a distinct blue ring of skin around its eyes with an orange-yellow blob of skin on its beak. The legs and feet are pink in color. 

During the non-breeding period, adults do not have the crest that they usually have in their breeding period and showcase a pale facial area with fewer whiter wings and back. The chicks are brownish and white in color. The males are bigger than the females. 

How cute are they?

Blue-eyed shags are slightly cute with their penguin-like stature and cooperative hunting habits in the Antarctic with other birds. We also like the fact that they breed in colonies with other species and are monogamous in nature. 

How do they communicate?

Male blue-eyed shags communicate vocally by producing barks, rasping, and nasal-like sounds similar to gargling, groaning, and croaking calls, whereas the females produce a much softer sound consisting of puffing or hissing but mostly remaining silent. The calls are mostly heard during the mating rituals and whenever the species are threatened. 

How big is an imperial shag?

An imperial shag can grow up to a length of 26.7-30 in (68-76 cm) with a wingspan of 48.8 in (124 cm).

How fast can an imperial shag move?

The blue-eyed shag has been estimated to fly at a speed of 31.06 mph (50 kph).

How much does an imperial shag weigh?

A blue-eyed shag weighs about 63.5-123.4 oz (1.8-3.5 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There is no specific name given to the blue-eyed shag according to their sex. 

What would you call a baby imperial shag?

A baby shag is referred to as a chick, like any other baby bird.

What do they eat?

Their diet consists of scallops, colossal squid, sea slugs, snails, fish, algae, crustaceans, and other marine animals.

Adult birds and chicks are frequently preyed upon by bigger predators like gulls, southern skua, ferret, fox, and an armadillowhich consider them as a good food diet.

Are they dangerous?

Yes, these birds can be dangerous as they are quite territorial and aggressive in nature, especially the male shags with their dominating calls and loud nature when they are protecting their eggs during the breeding season.

Would they make a good pet?

No, being a migratory species, keeping one as a pet would not be a good decision as it will require a lot of space to live comfortably. Also, it is actually illegal to keep migratory birds as pets in many countries. 

Did you know...

There is a lot of confusion within the shag family due to its taxonomical length. It has been reported that there are more than 14 species of shag.

The term 'blue-eyed shag' is sometimes meant for a distinct bird known as an imperial shag, however, it can also be a catchphrase for all the shag species on the list. However, it is interesting to note that the blue-eyed shag is the only kind of cormorant to exist in the whole Antarctic region.

Do imperial shags live in Antarctica?

The Antarctic shag, commonly known as an imperial shag or king cormorant, is a species found in the Antarctic region. Hence, considering their subspecies, shags definitely live in Antarctica for the cold climatic habitats and rocky coastal regions. 

Is a shag a penguin?

It is common that people can mix the two breeds of birds together due to their similar body colors and hunting habits. However, there are distinct differences between the two. 

The imperial cormorant is a long-necked flying bird with a lanky body, unlike penguins who are short-necked and flightless. The Magellanic penguins can be related to the imperial shag with their similar hunting habits and stumps but it is important to note that penguins are able to store more heat while the latter faces some problems.

A cormorant uses more energy while hunting than penguins with their streamlined bodies.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our laughing gull facts and common gallinule fact for kids. 

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable imperial shag coloring pages.

Main image by Chris Pearson.

Second image by Kognos.