Pied Shag

Maori Name: Karuhiruhi

Phalacrocorax P. varius

The Pied Shag has two subspecies; one that breeds in Australia and one in New Zealand. It is the varius or Karuhiruhi that makes its home in New Zealand waters. They have a fairly patchy distribution around the coastline but are moderately common in the Bay of Islands, Coromandel Peninsula, the inner Hauraki Gulf and Marlborough. The population is thought to be between 5000-10000 breeding pairs. Although they were once persecuted as a nuisance by fishermen, it has now been proved that they do not threaten fish numbers. They are classified as a protected native.

The Pied Shag is a coastal species that breeds around sheltered coasts, harbours and islands, but it also breeds in fresh and brackish water and will often head inland to good fishing spots in deep lakes or open swamps and rivers. This species will rarely go more than a kilometre offshore. 

The Pied Shag will often be seen perched on a low hanging branch close to the waterline, either searching for prey or drying their outstretched wings after swimming (as they are not waterproof). This species will dive to catch mainly bottom feeding fish in still, shallow water or in fast moving currents.  They can dive down to a depth of about 20 metres, but often much less. Dives will last from 20-30 seconds on average with a rest time of about 5-10 seconds, although in deeper water dives and rest times usually last longer. Some birds may be caught accidentally in fishing nets, however restrictions placed on both recreational and commercial set netting in 2008 will undoubtedly benefit this species.

To look at the Pied Shag is quite distinctive, with black and white plumage which is sharply defined. It is a medium sized shag at 81 centimetres and about 2 kilograms. The male and female look the same. The belly and chest is all white and the back and top of head is black with a greenish sheen. The eye is green with a blue eye ring, and it has a bright yellow spot in the bare space in front of the eyes. It also has black legs and feet, a bare throat patch and a long, slightly hooked grey bill.

The juveniles differ from the adult in having duller plumage, with brown margined feathers at the top of the wings, while the throat and belly are irregularly spotted with blackish brown. Nestlings have sooty brown and white down.

The Pied Shag is mostly silent except for some guttural croaks and gurgling sounds when nesting.

They main breed in Northland, around East Cape and in the South in Tasman/Marlborough, down the east coast to Banks Peninsula, in Fiordland and Stewart Island. 

Pied Shags breed actively all year round but laying peaks in July – October and January – March. They usually nest in small colonies which also may include other shags like the Black or Little shag. The colonies are commonly in trees like pohutukawa or pines on cliffs overhanging the water, but sometimes in willows or pine trees on lakes or estuaries.

The large nest is constructed by both adults from seaweed and sticks stuck together with droppings.  The female lays a clutch of 3 – 4 pale bluish-green eggs, which both parents incubate for 25 – 33 days.  The chicks will fledge sometime between 47 – 60 days old but will continue to be fed by both parents for up to 11 weeks after that. The chicks feed from the parents by thrusting the head into their throat pouch and taking out the cache of fish held there.