European shag

How it lives

European shags are coastal birds that breed in colonies on rocky coasts and return to the same nest sites. Breeding runs from late February to late August, with three eggs, and one parent is always with the eggs or chicks. Birds start breeding at about four years old and typically live about 12 years. The oldest ringed bird in Britain and Ireland reached 29 years, 10 months and 25 days. Their plumage is only partly waterproof, so they often stand with wings held out to dry.

Where it goes

Mostly sedentary. Young birds disperse over short distances after breeding, and some adults make short moves in winter. Ringing shows that British shags mainly stay around British and Irish coasts, in inshore waters. The species lives along the Atlantic coast of Europe from Iceland and Finland to Morocco, and around the Mediterranean and parts of the Black Sea.

We only draw a journey on the map when scientists have tracked it or clearly documented it. For this animal we have not found one yet.

Populations

IUCN (2018): Least Concern, with a decreasing population. The world population is estimated at 230,000 to 240,000 individuals (2015), including 76,300 to 78,500 pairs in Europe. The UK had about 18,000 pairs in 2015 and is Amber listed. Scotland holds about 65% of the birds in Britain and Ireland, and its population fell by 22% between Seabird 2000 (1998 to 2002) and Seabirds Count (2015 to 2021). Storm wrecks cause heavy losses: in 2012 and 2013, study populations in Scotland fell by up to 53%, and State of the Coast Scotland reports an estimated 80% fall on the east coast after a wreck in autumn and winter 2023. Food supply, especially sandeels, and climate change are named as key threats.