Little Cormorant
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Little Cormorant |
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Phalacrocorax niger Vieillot, 1817 |
The Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger) is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It breeds in tropical south Asia from Southern Pakistan through India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia. It is resident but undertakes some limited seasonal movements.
This is a common and widespread bird species. It breeds in freshwater wetlands and on coasts. 3-5 eggs are laid in a nest in a tree or long grass.
This is a small cormorant, 55 cm in length. Its rectangular head profile and short bill are distinctions from the somewhat larger Indian Cormorant. Little Cormorant is mainly glossy black in the breeding season, with white head plumes and a whitish throat. The wing coverts are silvery, and it has a longish tail.
Sexes are similar, but non-breeding adults and juveniles are browner and lack the head plumes.
The Little Cormorant can dive to considerable depths, but usually feeds in shallow water. It frequently brings prey to the surface. A wide variety of fish are taken.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Phalacrocorax niger. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Seabirds by Harrison, ISBN 0-7470-1410-8
- Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6
Categories: Least Concern species | Phalacrocorax | Birds of Asia | Birds of Afghanistan | Birds of Pakistan | Birds of India | Birds of Sri Lanka | Birds of Nepal | Birds of China | Birds of Southeast Asia | Birds of Bangladesh | Birds of Myanmar | Birds of Vietnam | Birds of Laos | Birds of Cambodia | Birds of Thailand | Birds of Malaysia | Birds of Brunei | Birds of Indonesia | Birds of the Philippines