This shag is endemic to New Zealand's Chatham Islands. It feeds in coastal waters and breeds in groups on rocky headlands and offshore islets.
Adults have black upperparts and a white front, with pink feet. During breeding, bare facial skin and raised ornaments on the forehead become more prominent.
It dives in coastal water for fish and nests in colonies on rocky shorelines, including headlands and small offshore islands.
Breeding birds have dark purple bare facial skin and prominent orange-red caruncles above the bill base. Juveniles have dark brown upperparts with pale brown wing and back patches, rather than the adult black-and-white pattern. They lack facial caruncles and have pale purple bare facial skin.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.