Commonly found in parts of Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea east to New Caledonia, this last Microcarbo differs in
several respects. It is obviously the only pied taxon, whilst bearing a superficial resemblance to Pied Cormorant it is not closely related. A colonial nester, it occurs mainly in
freshwater habitats, but also coastal lagoons and bays, where it often mixes with other species. Three subspecies are described, brevirostrisin New Zealand, Campbell and Stewart Islands,
brevicauda on Rennell, which is smaller, and the nominate. The NZ race is polymorphic, which has led to some suggestions of a split.
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