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Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae)

Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps) - HBW 1, p. 350

French: Cormoran impérial German: Blauaugenscharbe Spanish: Cormorán Imperial
Other common names: Imperial/Blue-eyed Cormorant

Taxonomy: Phalacrocorax atriceps King, 1828, Strait of Magellan.
Race albiventer formerly considered separate species, including birds of Falkland Is and parts of S America, but wide zone of sympatry where mixed pairs frequent, and no differences observed in either behaviour or osteology; thus albiventer only constitutes race or possibly even colour morph. Some authors also included P. melanogenis, P. verrucosus and P. purpurascens within P. albiventer. Present species has also frequently been considered to include P. bransfieldensis, P. georgianus and P. nivalis. Species sometimes placed in g.. View all taxonomy...

Taxonomy: Phalacrocorax atriceps King, 1828, Strait of Magellan.
Race albiventer formerly considered separate species, including birds of Falkland Is and parts of S America, but wide zone of sympatry where mixed pairs frequent, and no differences observed in either behaviour or osteology; thus albiventer only constitutes race or possibly even colour morph. Some authors also included P. melanogenis, P. verrucosus and P. purpurascens within P. albiventer. Present species has also frequently been considered to include P. bransfieldensis, P. georgianus and P. nivalis. Species sometimes placed in genus Notocarbo. Two subspecies normally recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • atriceps King, 1828 - S South America.
  • albiventer (Lesson, 1831) - Falkland Is.

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