Australian Pied Cormorant
Phalacrocorax varius
Silhouette: L. Shyamal · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderSuliformes (Gannets, Cormorants, and Allies)
- FamilyPhalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
- GenusPhalacrocorax (Typical Old World Cormorants)
- SpeciesPhalacrocorax varius (Australian Pied Cormorant)
About the Australian Pied Cormorant
The Australian pied cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius), also known as the pied cormorant, pied shag, or great pied cormorant, is a medium-sized member of the cormorant family. It is found around the coasts of Australasia. In New Zealand, it is usually known either as the pied shag or by its Māori name of kāruhiruhi. Older sources may refer to it as the "yellow-faced cormorant".
The Australian pied cormorant was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it in the genus Pelecanus and coined the binomial name Pelecanus varius. Gmelin based his description on the "pied shag" from Queen Charlotte Sound, New Zealand, that had been described in 1785 by English ornithologist John Latham in his book A General Synopsis of Birds. Latham had based his own description on a specimen in the Leverian Museum and on a watercolour by Georg Forster that belonged to Joseph Banks. Forster had accompanied James Cook on his second voyage to the Pacific Ocean. The Australian pied cormorant is now one of 12 species placed in the genus Phalacrocorax that was introduced in 1760 by... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Australian Pied Cormorant in Rakiura National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Rakiura National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noosa National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Cape Range | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 7 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 10 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 11 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 12 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 13 | Kosciuszko National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 14 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 15 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 16 | Aoraki Mount Cook National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 17 | Flinders Chase | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 18 | Litchfield National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 19 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 20 | Tongariro National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 21 | Nitmiluk National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 22 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Australian Pied Cormorant in Rakiura National Park?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Australian Pied Cormorant sighting in Rakiura National Park, based on 711 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Australian Pied Cormorant in Rakiura National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Australian Pied Cormorant in Rakiura National Park in our monthly data.