Pitt shag facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pitt shag |
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| A Pitt shag (right) and a spotted shag (left), in an illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans | |
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| Genus: |
Phalacrocorax
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| Species: |
featherstoni
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The Pitt shag (Phalacrocorax featherstoni) is a special type of bird. It's also known as the Pitt Island shag or Featherstone's shag. This bird is part of the cormorant family, which are known for diving into the water to catch fish.
This unique shag lives only on Pitt Island, which is part of the Chatham Islands in New Zealand. You can find it in the open sea and along rocky shores. Sadly, the Pitt shag is an endangered bird. Its home is being lost, which makes it hard for them to survive.
About the Pitt Shag
The Pitt shag is a member of the cormorant family, called Phalacrocoracidae. These birds are great at swimming underwater. They use their strong legs and webbed feet to chase fish.
Discovery and History
A person named H.H. Travers found this type of shag in 1871. Later, in 1873, a scientist named Walter Buller officially described the species. He named it after Dr. Featherston, who was an important leader in Wellington at the time.
The Pitt shag has never been a very common bird. By 1905, there were very few left. Luckily, the Department of Conservation in New Zealand has a plan to help this bird. They are working to protect its home and help its numbers grow.
Shag Family Facts
Birds in the shag family can be grouped by the color of their feet. Some have black feet, some have yellow feet, and others have pink feet. Outside of New Zealand, black-footed shags are usually called cormorants. The Pitt shag belongs to the group with yellow feet.
See also
In Spanish: Cormorán de la Pitt para niños
