It is not flashy. The smallest shag in New Zealand is also the one most likely to be ignored. The little shag is a compact, dark bird with a short bill and a rounded head. In the South Island, it is black above and white below. In the North Island, it is almost entirely black. The two forms look different. They are the same species. Evolution is experimenting. The variation is geographic. It is not taxonomic. It swims with its body low in the water. Only the head and neck are visible. Then it dives. A little shag underwater is fast. It twists through submerged vegetation. It chases small fish and eels. It uses its feet for propulsion. Its wings serve for steering. It surfaces somewhere else. Often it has a fish in its bill. The hunt is efficient. The success rate is high. After fishing, it perches with wings outstretched. The feathers are not fully waterproof. They get wet during dives. Drying takes time. The posture is functional. It just happens to look dramatic. The bird does not care about aesthetics. It cares about drying. The sun does the work. The wind helps. It feeds on small fish, eels, and freshwater crustaceans. It hunts alone or in small groups. Unlike the larger black shag, it does not form large feeding flocks. It is a solitary hunter. It is a patient one. It waits for the right moment. It strikes with precision. Breeding takes it to colonies. These are often shared with other shags and herons. The nest is a platform of sticks. It is built in a tree or on a cliff ledge. Three or four eggs are laid. Both parents share incubation. The chicks are naked at hatching. They grow a shaggy grey down. This makes them look like tiny, damp mops. The appearance is ungainly. The survival instinct is strong. The little shag is common throughout New Zealand. It lives on lakes, rivers, and harbours from Northland to Southland. It is not flashy. It is not rare. It is just there. It perches on a rock or a jetty. Its wings are spread. It dries in the sun. The call is a low, grunting croak. It is often heard at the colony. It is not musical. It does not need to be. The sound serves its purpose. It marks territory. It maintains contact. The little shag is often confused with the little black shag. The latter is a rare vagrant from Australia. The little shag has a yellow bill. The little black shag has a dark bill. That is the main difference. The birds know the difference. Observers must look closely. The name 'kawau paka' means 'small shag'. It fits. The description is accurate. The bird is small. It is a shag. It carries on. No one told it otherwise.