The little pied cormorant, little shag or kawaupaka is a common species of Australasian waterbird, found around the coasts, islands, estuaries, and inland waters of Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Timor-Leste and Indonesia, and around the islands of the south-western Pacific and the subantarctic. It is a small short-billed cormorant usually black above and white below with a yellow bill and small crest, although a mostly black white-throated form predominates in New Zealand. Three subspecies are recognised. Until recently, most authorities referred to this species as Phalacrocorax melanoleucos.
Region
Australasia and Southwest Pacific
Typical Environment
Found on coasts, estuaries, mangroves, harbors, and sheltered bays, as well as inland lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and farm dams. It favors calm, shallow waters where it can pursue small prey underwater. Birds use snags, jetties, and low branches as resting and drying perches. It occurs across Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, and nearby Pacific islands, including some subantarctic islands.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
One of the smallest cormorants, it often perches with wings spread to dry after diving. In New Zealand a mostly black morph with a white throat is common, while elsewhere birds are typically black above and white below with a yellow bill. It frequently roosts communally and nests in colonies in trees or reed beds over water.
Wing drying pose
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low over water
Social Behavior
Often roosts and forages in small groups and breeds colonially, typically in trees or shrubs over water or on islands. Both parents build the stick nest, incubate the eggs, and feed the young. Outside the breeding season it gathers at communal roosts on snags, jetties, and mangroves.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Generally quiet away from colonies. At nests it gives low grunts, croaks, and hisses during displays and interactions.
Plumage
Compact cormorant with glossy black upperparts and white underparts; short bill and often a small crest. New Zealand birds frequently show a darker morph with a white throat and chin.
Diet
Primarily small fish, but also takes crustaceans, tadpoles, aquatic insects, and occasionally amphibians. It is a pursuit diver, propelling itself with its feet and catching prey underwater. After feeding it commonly perches with wings spread to dry.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along the edges of wetlands, in calm bays, and over submerged vegetation where prey concentrates. Often hunts near shorelines, around jetties, mangroves, and in shallow reaches of rivers and lakes.
