Listen to the European shag
Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.
About the European shag
The European shag is a bird in the family Phalacrocoracidae (order Suliformes). Its conservation status on the IUCN Red List is “least concern”.
What does the European shag sound like?
Birds produce sound with the syrinx, a vocal organ deep in the chest that can make two independent sounds at once. Songs tend to be long and patterned and are used to hold territory and attract a mate; calls are short signals for contact, alarm and flight.
From Wikipedia
The European shag or common shag (Gulosus aristotelis) is a species of cormorant. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Gulosus. It breeds around the rocky coasts of western and southern Europe, southwest Asia and north Africa, mainly wintering in its breeding range except for the northernmost birds. In Britain this seabird is usually referred to as simply the shag. The scientific genus name derives from the Latin for glutton. The species name aristotelis commemorates the Greek philosopher Aristotle.
More from the family Phalacrocoracidae
Frequently asked questions
What does an European shag sound like?
You can hear 1 recording of the European shag on this page. Birds produce sound with the syrinx, a vocal organ deep in the chest that can make two independent sounds at once.
Is the European shag endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the European shag as “least concern”.
What family does the European shag belong to?
The European shag (Gulosus aristotelis) belongs to the family Phalacrocoracidae in the order Suliformes.
Sources & credits
- Cormoran huppé - Gulosus aristotelis by Stanislas Wroza – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Wikidata Q83020448 – CC0
- Wikipedia: European shag – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo by Andreas Trepte – CC BY-SA 2.5