Description: Spotted shags (Stictocarbo punctatus) are best known for their striking breeding plumage, double crest and bright green facial skin. The pale grey front and light brown back and wings differ from the more common black-and-white shag colours. The Māori name is parekareka, and in Canterbury they are locally known as ‘flip-flaps’, from their laboured take-off from the water. Date: 28 May 2016, 12:32. Source: Spotted shags (Stictocarbo punctatus) NZ. Author: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand. Camera location42° 24′ 48.63″ S, 173° 42′ 02.26″ EView all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap-42.413508; 173.700628.
Description: The spotted shag is one of two yellow-footed shag species, both of which are endemic to New Zealand. Adult breeding birds are elegant and colourful, sporting a Mohican-like double crest, bright green-blue facial skin and blue eye rings. The species gets its name from the small black spots that appear near the tip of each back and wing covert during the breeding season. Spotted shags are entirely marine, breeding on the coasts of the North, South and Stewart Islands, and feeding in waters out to 16 km. Outside the breeding season, spotted shags form large feeding and roosting flocks of up to 2000 birds. Date: 19 July 2008, 17:00. Source: Spotted Shag NZ. Author: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand. Camera location45° 06′ 34.08″ S, 170° 58′ 43.59″ EView all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap-45.109468; 170.978776.
