DOUBLE BRESTED CORMORANT

 

1361                  DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT                 Nannopterum auritum

USA              8

The double-crested cormorant is a member of the cormorant family of water birds. It is found near rivers and lakes and in coastal areas and is widely distributed across North America, from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska down to Florida and Mexico.  Five subspecies are recognized. It mainly eats fish and hunts by swimming and diving. Its feathers, like all cormorants, are not waterproof, and it must dry them out after spending time in the water. Once threatened by the use of DDT, the numbers of this bird have increased markedly in recent years.            

KING SHAG

Photographed on Blumaine Island, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019.

1289                   KING SHAG                   Leucoccarbo carunculatus

NEW ZEALAND                 114

Rare endemic. About 125 pairs in coastal waters of Marlborough Sound only.

SPOTTED SHAG

Photographed at Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, June 2017

1212                        SPOTTED SHAG                      Stictocarbo punctatus 

NEW ZEALAND                   76

Also known as Blue Shag. 70 cm. Found in estuaries, harbours, and coastal waters around mainland. Locally common endemic.

BLACK SHAG

Photographed at Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, June 2017

(*   169)                    BLACK SHAG              Phalacrocorax carbo  

NEW ZEALAND                  74

Also called Black Cormorant or Big Black Cormorant. Found in rivers, streams and lakes; also estuaries, harbours and sheltered coastal waters. 88 cm. Common native found throughout New Zealand.

LITTLE BLACK SHAG

Photographed at Mount Mamganui, New Zealand, June 2017

(*  164)                 LITTLE BLACK SHAG               Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 

NEW ZEALAND                   62

Also known as Little Black Cormorant. 61 cm. Found in lakes, estuaries and harbours. Common on North Island but rare in South Island.

LITTLE SHAG

Photographed at Miranda, June 2017

(*  138)                 LITTLE SHAG                Phalacrocorax melanoleucos 

NEW ZEALAND                   51

Also known as Little Pied Cormorant. A common native all over New Zealand. 56 cm. Found in lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, also estuaries, harbours and sheltered coastal waters.

GREAT CORMORANT

Subspecies sinensis, March 2017

(*  1006)              GREAT CORMORANT                Phalacrocorax carbo

SRI LANKA            

Found mainly in larger tanks, and coastal lagoons. 80-100 cm. Rather rare breeding resident in dry lowlands, and very rarely in wet lowlands.

LITTLE CORMORANT

Photographed March 2017

(* 983)                LITTLE CORMORANT                   Phalacrocorax niger

SRI LANKA             23

Found near lakes, tanks, marshes, paddy fields, streams, rivers and lagoons. 51 cm. Very common resident, mainly from lowlands to upper hills; less common in higher hills.

GREAT CORMORANT

1006                        GREAT CORMORANT                  Phalacrocorax carbo      

NEPAL           65

Found in lakes and large rivers, often communal roosting in winter. 80-100 cm. Fairly common and widespread winter visitor.

LITTLE CORMORANT

Photographed at Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

983                 LITTLE CORMORANT                 Phalacrocorax niger

NEPAL            31

Inhabits rivers, lakes, reservoirs and pools. 51 cm. Resident, winter visitor and passage migrant; locally common.

LITTLE PIED CORMORANT

Photographed in Denpasar, Bali October 2016

(see     138)                   LITTLE PIED CORMORANT                  Phalacrocorax melanoleucus

INDONESIA (Bali)         (19)        

Found near freshwater lakes and marshes, as well as tidal estuaries, brackish wetlands and mangroves; occasionally seen on exposed coastal areas and offshore islands. 60 cm. Range: Australasia:resident and fairly communion Wallace and Papua; vagrant in east Java.

Photographed near Sanur, Bali October 2016

BLACK-FACED CORMORANT

Photographed at Low Head, Tasmania, January, 2015

474         BLACK-FACED CORMORANT                 Phalacrocorax fuscescens

Australia           (315)

Also known as Black-faced Shag or White-breasted Cormorant. Range along coast of Tasmania and southern Australia from just above Eden (NSW) to C. Leeuwin (WA). Found in coastal waters, islands, larger bays, deep inlets, ashore mostly on rock stacks or remote rocky headlands, seldom on beaches.

REED CORMORANT

A juvenile Reed Cormorant, its plumage will eventually turn black.

438         REED CORMORANT                Phalacrocorax africanus

South Africa         (106)

Also known as Long-tailed Cormorant. 50-55 cm, wingspan 85 cm. Found on freshwater wetlands and quiet coasts where lives on fish, frogs, aquatic invertebrates and small birds. Hunts in shallow water but can dive, brings prey to surface to eat. Widespread over Africa south of Sahara, over most of southern Africa, particularly eastern half.

GREAT CORMORANT

169           GREAT CORMORANT          Phalacrocorax carbo

Australia      (169)

Also called Black or Big Black Cormorant, or Black Shag. 72-92 cm, wingspan 1.2 m. Range most of Australia, except interior central w. WA. Found in large waters, coasts, bays, rivers, lakes, farm dams.

LITTLE BLACK CORMORANT

164         LITTLE BLACK CORMORANT              Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

Australia       (164)

Also known as Little Black Shag. 58-64 cm, wingspan c. 1 m. Range across most of Australia, except driest interior. Found in coastal waters, bays, inlets, rivers, swamps, lakes.

PIED CORMORANT

135             PIED CORMORANT           Phalacrocorax varius

Australia       (135)

Also known as Yellow-faced Cormorant.  66-80 cm, wingspan c. 1.5 m.  Ranges over all of mainland except inland. Found in coastal waters, estuaries, bays, tidal inlets, and to far inland lakes and rivers.