Scientific: Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Authorship: (Linnaeus, 1761)
Catalan: Corb marí emplomallat
Spanish: Cormorán moñudo

Taxonomy:

PHYLUM: Chordata

CLASS: Aves
ORDER: Pelecaniformes
FAMILY: Phalacrocoracidae
GENUS: Phalacrocorax
SPECIES: P. aristotelis

• Big size, but smaller than the great cormoran (Phalacrocorax carbo).
• Adult: Black coloured with a green lustre.
• Hook-shaped bill, with yellow naked skin at the base of the mandible.
• Adult: Black curved crest on the head at the beginning of the breeding period.

Least concern (UICN)

SIZE: Length 68-78 cm; Wingspan 95-110 cm.

IDENTIFICATION: It is a little bit smaller and slender than the great cormoran, with a thinner neck, smaller and rounder head and a slender bill. The main differences during the flight are a straighter neck, a , lower flight (mainly at water level), more elastics and faster wingbeats, without alternate short glides. It displays a more pronounced jump before diving. It can be seen resting on rocks or on the breakwater.

NESTING: The european shag nests in lax colonies, on coastal cliffs. Nest: plants piled in crevices or small caves or below a rock.

ADULT: Breeding: black with green lustre. Yellow corner of the bill. Non breeding: matt black, less lustre. Yellowish bill.

JUVENILE: Dark brown on the dorsal side and pale brown on the ventral side (uniform coloration), white chin. Bone-white bill with a yellow patch on the base. Dark legs.

INMATURE: Gradually darker and with more lustre until it acquires its adult plumage