Double-crested Cormorant vs Spotted Shag

Phalacrocorax auritus compared with Phalacrocorax punctatus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Double-crested Cormorant	Spotted Shag
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order same	Suliformes (Suliformes)	Suliformes (Suliformes)
Family same	Phalacrocoracidae	Phalacrocoracidae
Genus same	Phalacrocorax	Phalacrocorax
Species	Phalacrocorax auritus	Phalacrocorax punctatus

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Double-crested Cormorant

LC — Least Concern

Spotted Shag

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Double-crested Cormorant	Spotted 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).

Spotted Shag

Habitat

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

Range

Found in Norway.

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