About Leucocarbo colensoi (Buller, 1888)
The Auckland shag, also called the Auckland Islands shag, is a cormorant species with the scientific name Leucocarbo colensoi, native to New Zealand. This species is endemic to the Auckland Islands archipelago. It is a sedentary bird, and its diet primarily consists of various crustaceans and fish. In recent years, approximately 1,000 breeding pairs of Auckland shag have been recorded. Auckland shags are colonial nesters, and they build large nests using materials including grass, twigs, and seaweed. Females lay three pale blue-green eggs between November and February, and the incubation period lasts 26 to 32 days. Due to its small population size and limited global range, the IUCN lists the Auckland shag as a Vulnerable species. Taxonomic classification of this species varies between authorities: the International Ornithologists' Union and others place it in the genus Leucocarbo, while other authorities place it in the genus Phalacrocorax. The species' specific epithet was chosen to honor the naturalist William Colenso.
