Posted by Dave Thewlis on December 05, 2002 at 03:11:38 from 148.78.247.10 user dthewlis.
In Reply to: Re: cormorants or shags? posted by Alan Hakim on December 05, 2002 at -1:08:26:
Our copy of the Sibley Guide to Birds, which covers North American species, lists "True Cormorants" as Genus Phalacrocorax and provides the Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, the Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus, and Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus. He lists "Pacific Cormorants (Shags)" as the Red-faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax urile, Pelagic Cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus, and Brandt's Cormorant Phalacrocorax penicillatus.
From this I conclude that Shags in North America are definitely the right Genus but are somehow "Pacific" rather than "True" cormorants, somewhat daunting to Californians. And Anhingas, which rather resemble Cormorants, aren't Cormorants or Shags.