Imperial Shag
Leucocarbo atriceps
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderSuliformes
- FamilyPhalacrocoracidae (Corbs marins)
- GenusLeucocarbo (Blue-eyed Shags and allies)
- SpeciesLeucocarbo atriceps (Imperial Shag)
The imperial shag or imperial cormorant (Leucocarbo atriceps) is a black-and-white cormorant native to southern South America, islands of the Subantarctic, and the Antarctic Peninsula, primarily in rocky coastal regions, but locally also at large inland lakes. Some taxonomic authorities, including the International Ornithologists' Union, place it in the genus Leucocarbo, others in the genus Phalacrocorax. It is also known as the blue-eyed shag, blue-eyed cormorant and by many other names, and is one of a larger group of cormorants called blue-eyed shags. The taxonomy is complex, and several types are treated as either subspecies or separate species. Wikipedia →
60–70% of wildlife watchers report a Imperial Shag sighting in Península Valdés, based on 226 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Península Valdés
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Península Valdés | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 2 | Tierra del Fuego National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 3 | Nahuel Huapi National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 4 | Torres del Paine National Park | 🇨🇱 Chile |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Imperial Shag in Península Valdés?
About 65% of wildlife watchers report a Imperial Shag sighting in Península Valdés, based on 226 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Imperial Shag in Península Valdés?
April has the highest sighting rate for Imperial Shag in Península Valdés in our monthly data.