LITTLE PIED SHAG

This is the smallest of the NZ Shags. There are 8 different varieties. This one is (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos). They have  short stubby yellow bills (beaks) brown eyes and black feet.  The extra clearly shows the feet and bill. they are widespread throughout NZ. In our estuary they often catch small eels and I have seen these wrapped around the shags head. This one was feeding on small bullies just before this pic.  The outspread wings (often seen as some spiritual thing ) is in fact them drying out its wings. They spend about 20 minutes in the water, any longer and they would get their feathers water logged.
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