Spotted Shag
Spotted ShagSpotted ShagSpotted ShagSpotted Shag

Spotted Shag

Phalacrocorax punctatus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Abel Tasman National Park
60 Verified records at Abel Tasman National Park
October Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The spotted shag or pārekareka (Phalacrocorax punctatus) is a species of cormorant endemic to New Zealand. Though originally classified as Phalacrocorax punctatus, it is sufficiently different in appearance from typical members of that genus that for a time it was placed in a separate genus, Stictocarbo, along with a similar species, the Pitt shag. Subsequent genetic studies show that the spotted shag's lineage is nested within the typical shags. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Spotted Shag sighting in Abel Tasman National Park, based on 60 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Abel Tasman National Park

Australian Pied Cormorant
LC Endemic

Australian Pied Cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax varius

30–40% · Possible
Great Cormorant
LC Endemic

Great Cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax carbo

10–20% · With luck
Little Black Cormorant
LC

Little Black Cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

<5% · Rare
Little Pied Cormorant
LC Endemic

Little Pied Cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Microcarbo melanoleucos

20–30% · Possible
Australasian Gannet
LC

Australasian Gannet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Morus serrator

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
5–10
Feb
10–20
Mar
5–10
Apr
5–10
May
5–10
Jun
10–20
Jul
10–20
Aug
10–20
Sep
20–30
Oct
10–20
Nov
10–20
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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 Rakiura National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
30–40%
2 Abel Tasman National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
10–20%
3 Fiordland National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
10–20%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Spotted Shag in Abel Tasman National Park?

About 12% of wildlife watchers report a Spotted Shag sighting in Abel Tasman National Park, based on 60 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Spotted Shag in Abel Tasman National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Spotted Shag in Abel Tasman National Park in our monthly data.

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