Double-crested Cormorant vs European Shag

Phalacrocorax auritus compared with Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Key Differences

• Double-crested Cormorant is Least Concern while European Shag is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Double-crested Cormorant	European Shag
Kingdom same	Animalia (حيوانات)	Animalia (حيوانات)
Phylum same	Chordata (حبليات)	Chordata (حبليات)
Class same	Aves (طيور)	Aves (طيور)
Order same	Suliformes (أطيشيات)	Suliformes (أطيشيات)
Family same	Phalacrocoracidae	Phalacrocoracidae
Genus same	Phalacrocorax	Phalacrocorax
Species	Phalacrocorax auritus	Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Evolutionary Relationship

Double-crested Cormorant and European Shag share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Phalacrocorax.

Conservation Status

Double-crested Cormorant

LC — Least Concern

European Shag

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Double-crested Cormorant	European Shag
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Double-crested Cormorant

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (5 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Colombia).

European Shag

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Norway, Sweden, and Ukraine. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway