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Difference between revisions of "Great Cormorant" - BirdForum Opus

(Gallery of images created / Image of Ssp. ''sinensis'' in breeding plumage added.)
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;[[:Category:Phalacrocorax|Phalacrocorax]] carbo
 
;[[:Category:Phalacrocorax|Phalacrocorax]] carbo
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
80–100 cm
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80–100 cm (31½-39½ in)
 
*Blackish plumage
 
*Blackish plumage
 
*White throat
 
*White throat
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</gallery>
 
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==References==
 
==References==
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug13}}#Avibase
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug16}}#Avibase
 
#Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
 
#Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
 
#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved July 2014)
 
#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved July 2014)

Revision as of 00:13, 23 February 2017

Alternative Name: White-breasted Cormorant [1], Black Cormorant

Photo by Nora
Melton, Melbourne, Australia, May 2007
Phalacrocorax carbo

Identification

80–100 cm (31½-39½ in)

  • Blackish plumage
  • White throat
  • Yellow gape
  • White thigh patch in breeding plumage

Juvenile whitish underparts

Similar Species

Forehead less steep than Shag

Distribution

Photo by Paul Wheeler
Stover, Devon, February 2011

Almost worldwide; absent from Antarctica, South America and much of North America. In North America found north of Nova Scotia in breeding season.

Winters south to Florida along the coast. Also winters in small numbers in Lake Ontario.

Taxonomy

Some authorities consider the White-breasted Cormorant of Africa to be a separate species Phalacrocorax lucidus (Lepage, 2007)[2].

Subspecies

There are 6 subspecies[1]:

  • P. c. carbo:
  • P. c. novaehollandiae:
  • P. c. sinensis:
Photo by Joe52
Bournemouth, UK, January 2014
  • P. c. hanedae:
  • P. c. maroccanus:
  • P. c. lucidus:

Habitat

Open water and rocky coastline. Breeds on sea cliffs and on inland trees. .

Behaviour

Juvenile
Photo by Macswede
Skåne, Sweden, April 2013

Often seen perched on rocks, bouys and posts with their wings outspread. Swims low in the water with head raised

Diet

Their diet consists mostly of fish; crustaceans and amphibians are also eaten.

Flight

Flies higher over the water than Shags; flocks forming long lines or V-shapes.

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Phalacrocorax carbo (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

Gallery

Click images to see larger version

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Avibase
  3. Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
  4. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved July 2014)

Recommended Citation

External Links


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