The Imperial Cormorant, or Imperial Shag, is ubiquitous in Patagonia. Plastic pollution is ubiquitious across the planet, so it was not surprising, if sad, to see the two interact along this stretch of Pacific shore in Punta Arenas, Chile, as in the picture above.

Imperial Cormorants often gather in big groups. That was mostly my experience during the week I regularly crossed paths with them in the southernmost reaches of Chilean Patagonia in and around Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas and on the Última Esperanza (Last Hope) Sound in Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. The scenes below, in order, are at the picturesque Muelle Viejo, or Old Dock, in Puerto Natales, near the opening of the Última Esperanza Sound, and below that on a large outcrop on the Sound.

They’re black on top and white on the bottom, which is the quickest way to set them apart from other cormorant species; they reminded me of penguins when they stood upright. They also have blue rings around their eyes, earning them another nickname, the Blue-eyed Shag.

Breeding season is in September and October with fledging about three months later. These photos were taken in early February so a few juveniles can be spotted.

I enjoyed following this one during a journey through the sound on a trip that included glacier watching in Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. While they can and do fly high, I mostly watched them as low fliers, particularly over water. They can also fly far; upwards of 25-30km while foraging according to Birds of the World, with brief rest stops on the water.

And one more set, like the lead photo, seen on and near an abandoned wharf in Punta Arenas.

Imperial Cormorant (Leucocarbo atriceps) in brief (with assist from WordPress AI but double-checked by me at Birds of the World and Wikipedia):

• Latin Name: Leucocarbo atriceps
• Size: 70-80 cm (28-31 inches)
• Weight: 2-3.5 kg (4.4-7.7 lbs)
• Diet: Primarily fish and crustaceans
• Habitat: Coastal waters and islands of South America, particularly in Chilean Patagonia, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands
• Physical Description: Black on the back and white on the belly, with distinctive blue rings around the eyes; resembles penguins when upright
• Breeding: Breeding season occurs in September and October, with fledging approximately three months later
• Conservation Status: Least Concern, but affected by local fisheries and pollution
• Primary Predators: Seagulls and other large birds, as well as land-based predators like foxes
• Unique Behaviors: Can dive underwater to catch prey; tends to fly low over water; social birds often seen in groups
• Range of Migration: Primarily sedentary with some movement along the coast; local shifts based on food availability
• Migration Periods and Patterns: Limited migration, with movements generally tied to foraging needs rather than seasonal migration patterns

Links for further reference:

• Imperial Cormorant at Birds of the World
• Imperial Cormorant at BirdLife DataZone
• Imperial Cormorant at eBird
• Imperial Cormorant at Avibase
• Imperial Cormorant at Wikipedia
• Imperial Cormorant at Oiseaux.net
• Imperial Cormorant at iNaturalist

Photos taken from 4-7 February 2013 in and around Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas, Chile. Originally published on my blog, Piran Café, which is no longer being updated and moved here on 26 July 2026. Post last updated on 27 July 2026.

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Tossed into the mix for this week’s Bird of the Week hosted by I.J on his site Don’t Hold Your Breath.

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