Common Shag
Gulosus aristotelis
- Class
- Bird
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 11,247
- Most observed in
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The European shag or common shag (Gulosus aristotelis) is a species of cormorant. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Gulosus. It breeds around the rocky coasts of western and southern Europe, southwest Asia and north Africa, mainly wintering in its breeding range except for the northernmost birds. In Britain this seabird is usually referred to as simply the shag. The scientific genus name derives from the Latin for glutton. The species name aristotelis commemorates the Greek philosopher Aristotle.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “European shag”.