Shag

Scientific name

Phalarocorox aristelis

Gaelic name

Sgaebh an Sgumain

Physical Description

Shags are long-necked birds similar to Cormorants (their cousins) but smaller.

They wear a crest on the front of their head. Their plumage is dark glossy green.

Shags can weigh 320 to 550 g (= a basket ball) and stand 64 to 80 cm tall. They can live up to 21 years.

Feeding

Shags eat sand eels and herrings.

Behaviour

Shags are exclusively marine birds. They rarely venture onto the muddy or sandy shoreline or further land.

They nest on rocky coasts.

Like Cormorants, they often stand with their wings outstretched to dry!

Threats

Shags are threatened by oil spills.

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