From Opus

Phalacrocorax capensis

Photo by eospete
Photo taken in South Africa

[edit] Identification

Length 61-64 cm, mass 1.0-1.6 kg, males larger than females.

Breeding Adult: Glossy blue-black plumage, with white filoplumes on the head, neck and vent. Bill, legs and feet black. The eyes are turquoise, with a greenish eye-ring. The bare skin below the eye and the base of the lower bill is orange, as is the gular pouch.

Non-breeding Adult: Generally duller than the breeding adults, without white filoplumes, and with throat and breast mottled brown.

[edit] Distribution

Coast of Namibia and western and southern coast of South Africa.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic.

[edit] Habitat

Marine coast.

[edit] Status

Classified as Near-threatened in the IUCN Red List (BirdLife International, 2007).

[edit] Behaviour

Roosts in large flocks, some numbering thousands. Forages up to 80 km offshore, usually in large flocks, often with Cape Gannets, gulls and terns. Feeds mainly on pelagic schooling fish.

Breeding: Monogamous, often nesing in large colonies. The nest is a loose pile built with various materials including sticks, feathers, dry seaweed, bones and human debris. One to five eggs are laid, usually September to February. Predators of nestlings include Cape Fur Seal, Great White Pelican, Kelp Gull, Sacred Ibis, and White-breasted Cormorant.

[edit] References

BirdLife International (2007) Species factsheet: Phalacrocorax capensis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 16/4/2008.

Lepage D. 2008. Avibase. Search for "Cape Cormorant" downloaded 16 April 2008.

[edit] External Links