| Auckland shag | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Suliformes |
| Family: | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Genus: | Leucocarbo |
| Species: | L. colensoi |
| Binomial name | |
| Leucocarbo colensoi (Buller, 1888) | |
 | |
Native range | |
| Synonyms | |
Phalacrocorax colensoi | |
TheAuckland shag orAuckland Islands shag (Leucocarbo colensoi) is a species ofcormorant fromNew Zealand. The species isendemic to theAuckland Islands archipelago. It is a sedentary bird that primarily eats various crustaceans and fish. In recent years, roughly 1,000 pairs have been recorded. The Auckland shag is a colonial nester, building sizeable nests of, among other items, grass, twigs and seaweed. The Auckland shag lays three pale blue-green eggs in November–February. Theincubation period is 26–32 days.
The Auckland shag is consideredVulnerable by theIUCN due to its small population size and restricted global range.
Some taxonomic authorities, including theInternational Ornithologists' Union, place this species in the genusLeucocarbo. Others place it in the genusPhalacrocorax.
Thespecific epithet of this bird commemorates the naturalistWilliam Colenso.
