Antarctic Shag Leucocarbo bransfieldensis

Typical “blue-eyed shag”, endemic to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. Striking adult has the bicolored coloration, yellow caruncles, and white shoulder bar typical of that group; also a small stiff crest during the early breeding season. Juvenile is much drabber, being simply dark above and white below. Almost identical to South Georgia Shag, but ranges differ. Breeds on rocky terrain, on both islands and the mainland. Like many of the other “blue-eyed shags”, tends not to stray too far from colony sites, except when winter ice forces birds to move farther afield to access open water.