The Bounty shag, also known as the Bounty Island shag, is a species of cormorant of the family Phalacrocoracidae. They are found only on the tiny and remote Subantarctic Bounty Islands, 670 km (420 mi) southeast of New Zealand. Its natural habitats are open seas and rocky shores. In 2022, a full Unmanned aerial vehicle survey of the Bounty archipelago found a total of 573 breeding pairs and estimates the population to consist of approximately 1,733 birds. These recent estimates are consistent with the only other comparable study from 1978 and suggest that the species' population has remained stable over the past 45 years.
Region
Subantarctic New Zealand
Typical Environment
Confined to the Bounty Islands, breeding on bare rock stacks and low coastal shelves with constant ocean swell. Birds forage exclusively in surrounding open seas, typically close to the archipelago. Colonies occupy guano‑stained ledges just above the spray zone, with little or no vegetation. At sea they remain nearshore relative to the islands and are rarely recorded far away.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 50 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the Bounty Island shag, this blue‑eyed cormorant breeds only on the tiny, treeless Bounty Islands southeast of New Zealand. It nests on narrow rocky ledges in dense colonies and forages in the cold, nutrient‑rich waters nearby. A 2022 UAV census estimated roughly 1,733 individuals and indicated a stable population over several decades. Its extreme range restriction makes it vulnerable to oil spills and severe storms, so ongoing monitoring is important.
Temperament
colonial and wary
Flight Pattern
strong, direct flight low over the waves
Social Behavior
Breeds in dense colonies on narrow ledges, often nesting only centimeters apart. Pairs are seasonally monogamous and both sexes share incubation and chick rearing. Nests are low mounds of seaweed, grasses when available, and guano cemented to the rock.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Generally quiet at sea but vocal at colonies, giving low grunts, croaks, and hisses during displays and territorial interactions. Chicks beg with high, rasping calls.
