Little Pied Cormorant

Kawaupaka is New Zealand’s smallest shag, a compact bird often seen drying its wings beside calm water. The common pied form has black upperparts and white face and underparts with a short yellow bill; dark forms remain much smaller and shorter-billed than black shag.

It is widespread on both main islands in freshwater wetlands, rivers, harbours and sheltered coastal sites. Kawaupaka make short dives for small fish, freshwater crayfish and aquatic invertebrates and nest colonially in trees over water.

Little pied cormorant is At Risk — Relict (NZ Threat Classification). Wetland loss, fishing hooks, set nets and deliberate persecution cause mortality. Urban lakes, estuaries and sheltered harbours across New Zealand often hold approachable birds.