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Kōrero: Shags

Colour variation in Stewart Island shags

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Colour variation in Stewart Island shags

Within some species, you will find birds displaying different colours (known as morphs). These different forms may breed with each other. Photographed on Codfish Island, near Stewart Island, are a bronze-morph and three pied-morph Stewart Island shags, warming up in the sun after a fishing trip. The enlarged neck shows they have recently eaten. They also display the purple eye ring and red throat pouch that are prominent at breeding time.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10038256

by Brian D. Bell

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Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Gerard Hutching, Shags – Pink-footed shags, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/5410/colour-variation-in-stewart-island-shags (accessed 2 July 2026).

He kōrero nā Gerard Hutching, i tāngia i te 2 March 2009.