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Imperial Shag (South Georgia)

Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus (Lönnberg, E 1906)

The imperial shag or imperial cormorant is a black and white cormorant native to southern South America, primarily in rocky coastal regions, but locally also at large inland lakes. Some taxonomic authorities, including the International Ornithologists' Union, place it in the genus Leucocarbo, others in the genus Phalacrocorax. It is also known as the blue-eyed shag, blue-eyed cormorant and by many other names, and is one of a larger group of cormorants called blue-eyed shags. The taxonomy is very complex, and several former subspecies are often considered separate species. Source: Wikipedia

Classification
Order:
  Pelecaniformes
Family:
  Phalacrocoracidae
Genus:
   Leucocarbo
Scientific:
  Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus

Original description

Citation:
  (Lönnberg, E 1906)

Reference:
   Kung. Sven. Vetensk.-Akad. Handl. 40 no.5 p.69 pl.2 fig.4,5

Protonym:
  Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus

Type locality:
  South Georgia.

Link:
  https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/114447#page/651/mode/1up

Avibase identifiers

Avibase ID:
  1A941EF8FFBC07E9

Avibase ID:
  avibase-1A941EF8

Short link:
  https://avibase.ca/1A941EF8

Taxonomic Serial Number:
  TSN: 824234

English:
Imperial Shag (georgianus)
Afrikaans:
Keiserduiker (Suid-Georgia-)
Bulgarian:
Императорски корморан (ssp. georgianus)
Catalan:
corb marí imperial (georgianus)
Czech:
kormorán modrooký (ssp. georgianus)
Danish:
Blåøjet Skarv (Sydgeorgisk)
German:
Kaiserscharbe (Südgeorgienscharbe)
Spanish:
Cormorán Imperial (de Georgia)
Spanish (Spain):
Cormorán imperial (de Georgia)
Estonian:
lõunageorgia kormoran (lõunageorgia karbas)
French:
Cormoran impérial (georgianus)
Icelandic:
Blámaskarfur (georgianus)
Dutch:
Keizeraalscholver (Zuid-Georgische aalscholver)
Norwegian:
knoppskarv (georgianus)
Polish:
kormoran południowy (L. atriceps georgianus)
Slovak:
kormorán modrooký (ľadový)
Serbian:
Kraljevski vranac sa Južne Džordžije
Swedish:
kejsarskarv (sydgeorgisk skarv)
Turkish:
Mavi Gözlü Karabatak (georgianus)

Authorities recognizing this taxonomic concept:

Avibase taxonomic concepts (current):
Imperial Shag (georgianus) ( Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2023 (May 2023):
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2024 (Oct 2024):
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2025 (Nov 2025):
Imperial Shag (georgianus) ( Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 01 (August 2013):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 02 (May 2014):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 03 (March 2015):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 04 (Aug 2016):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 05 (Jan 2017):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 06 (Feb 2018):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 07 (Feb 2020):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 08 (Feb 2021):
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 1]
Avilist 2025:
Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v5 (Dec 2020):
Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus [version 3]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6 (Dec 2021):
Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus [version 3]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6b (Jul 2022):
Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus [version 3]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v7 (Dec 2022):
Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus [version 3]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v8 (Dec 2023):
Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus [version 3]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v9 (Oct 2024):
Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus [version 3]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v10 (Oct 2025):
Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus
Commission internationale pour les noms français des oiseaux (1993):
Cormoran géorgien ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 1]
Clements, version 2021:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
Clements, version 2022:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
Clements, version 2023:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
Clements, version 2024:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
Clements, version 2025:
Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus [version 1]
Clements 3rd edition:
South Georgia Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 1]
Clements 4th edition:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus)
Clements 5th edition (as published):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2000 revisions):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2001 revisions):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2002 revisions):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2003 revisions):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2004 revisions):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2005 revisions):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements 6th edition:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2007 revisions):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2008 revisions):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2009 revisions):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.5 incl. 2010 revisions):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.6 incl. 2011 revisions):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.7 incl. 2012 revisions):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.8 incl. 2013 revisions):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.9 incl. 2014 revisions):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements, version 2015:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements, version 2016:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements, version 2017:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements, version 2018:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Clements, version 2019:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
eBird version 1.50:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
eBird version 1.52:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
eBird version 1.53:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
eBird version 1.54:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
eBird version 1.55:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
eBird version 2015:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
eBird version 2016:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
eBird version 2017:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
eBird version 2018:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
eBird version 2019:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
eBird version 2021:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
eBird version 2022:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
eBird version 2023:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
eBird version 2024:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
eBird version 2025:
Imperial Cormorant (South Georgia) ( Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 2nd edition:
South Georgia Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 2]
Howard and Moore 2nd edition (incl. ? suppl):
South Georgia Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax georgianus)
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (as published):
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus [version 2]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 1.2):
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus [version 2]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 2.1):
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus [version 2]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 3.1):
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus [version 2]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 4):
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus [version 2]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 5):
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus [version 2]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 6):
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus [version 2]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 7):
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus [version 2]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 8):
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus [version 2]
Howard and Moore 4th edition (vol. 1-2):
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus [version 3]
Howard and Moore 4th edition (incl. corrigenda vol.1-2):
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus [version 3]
Handbook of the Birds of the World (vol 1-16):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus) [version 3]
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (31/01/2015):
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus [version 3]
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (03/07/2017):
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus [version 3]
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2017):
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus [version 3]
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2018):
Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.0:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.1:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.5:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.6:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.7:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.0:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.8:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.9:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.10:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.11:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.1:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.2:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.3:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.4:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.5:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.1:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.2:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.3:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.4:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.1:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.2:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.3:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.4:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.1:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.2:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.3:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.4:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.1:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.2:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.3:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.1:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.2:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.1:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.2:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.1:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.2:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.1:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.2:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.1:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.2:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.1:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.2:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.1:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.2:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
IOC World Bird Names, version 15.1:
South Georgia Shag ( Leucocarbo georgianus) [version 3]
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (original):
Phalacrocorax albiventer georgianus
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (2nd edition):
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus
Sibley and Monroe (1993):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus)
Sibley and Monroe (1993, including corrections up to 1998):
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus)
Sibley and Monroe, Birds of the World Version 2.0:
South Georgia Shag ( Phalacrocorax georgianus)
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource:
Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus [version 2]
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource:
Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus [version 2]

Taxonomic status:

Species status: subspecies (candidate for split)

This taxon is a subspecies of Leucocarbo atriceps

Your sightings

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Related taxa

Alternative arrangements:  1  2  3  4 

Highlight taxa in a checklist (shown in red)

Other synonyms

See also the taxonomic synonyms table.


Afrikaans: Keiserduiker (Suid-Georgia-)
Azerbaijani: Cənubi Georgi qarabatdağı
Bulgarian: Императорски корморан (ssp. georgianus)
Catalan: Corb marí de Geòrgia del Sud, corb marí imperial (georgianus)
Czech: Kormorán jižní, kormorán modrooký (ssp. georgianus)
Danish: Blåøjet Skarv (Sydgeorgisk), Sydgeorgisk Skarv
German: Kaiserscharbe (Südgeorgienscharbe), Südgeorgien Scharbe, Sudgeorgienscharbe, Südgeorgienscharbe
English: Georgia Cormorant, Georgian Shag, Imperial Cormorant (South Georgia), Imperial Shag (georgianus), Imperial Shag (South Georgia), South Georgia Cormorant, South Georgia Shag, South Georgian Cormorant, South Georgian Shag
[ENAV]: Imperial Cormorant (South Georgia)
English, HBW: Imperial Shag (South Georgia)
English (IOC): South Georgia Shag
English (United States): Imperial Cormorant (South Georgia), South Georgia Shag
Esperanto: sudgeorgia kormorano, Sudgeorgia tufkormorano
Spanish: Cormorán de Georgia, Cormorán geórgico, Cormorán Imperial (de Georgia)
Spanish (Argentine): Cormorán geórgico, Cormorán Imperial (georgianus)
Spanish (Chile): Cormorán geórgico, Cormorán imperial [georgianus]
Spanish (Spain): Cormorán de Georgia, Cormorán imperial (de Georgia)
Spanish (HBW): South Georgia Shag
Spanish (Uruguay): Biguá Vientre Blanco (Subesp. georgianus)
Estonian: lõunageorgia karbas, lõunageorgia kormoran, lõunageorgia kormoran (lõunageorgia karbas), lõuna-georgia kormoran (lõuna-georgia karbas)
Finnish: Etelägeorgianmerimetso
French: Cormoran de Géorgie, Cormoran de Géorgie du Sud, Cormoran géorgien, Cormoran impérial (georgianus)
French (Guyane): Cormoran géorgien
Hungarian: déli-georgai kárókatona
Icelandic: Blámaskarfur (georgianus), Gullskarfur
Italian: Cormorano della Georgia Australe, Cormorano della Giorgia australe, Cormorano di South Georgia
Japanese (romaji): sausujoajiamunajirohimeu, sausujo-jiamunajirohimeu
Japanese: サウスジョアジアムナジロヒメウ, サウスジョージアムナジロヒメウ
Kirghiz: Түштүк Георгия кара казы
Scientific: Leucocarbo atriceps georgianus, Leucocarbo georgianus, Notocarbo atriceps georgianus, Notocarbo georgianus, Phalacrocorax albiventer georgianus, Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus, Phalacrocorax georgianus
Lithuanian: Džordžijos kormoranas, Pietų Džordžijos kormoranas
Dutch: Keizeraalscholver (Zuid-Georgische aalscholver), Zuidgeorgische Aalscholver, Zuid-Georgische Aalscholver
Norwegian Nynorsk: Sørgjeorgiaskarv
Norwegian: knoppskarv (georgianus), Sørgeorgiaskarv
Polish: kormoran poludniowy, kormoran południowy, kormoran południowy (L. atriceps georgianus)
Portuguese: Biguá-da-geórgia-do-sul
Portuguese (Portugal): corvo-marinho-da-geórgia-do-sul
Russian: Георгийский баклан
Slovak: kormorán ľadový, kormorán modrooký (ľadový)
Serbian: Kraljevski vranac sa Južne Džordžije, Vranac sa Južne Džordžije
Swedish: kejsarskarv (sydgeorgisk skarv), Sydgeorgisk skarv
Turkish: Güney Georgia Karabatağı, Mavi Gözlü Karabatak (georgianus)
Ukrainian: Баклан георгійський
Chinese: 南乔治亚鸬鹚
Chinese (Traditional): 南喬治亞鸕鷀

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