From Opus

Alternative names: Neotropical Cormorant; Olivaceous Cormorant

Phalacrocorax brasilianus

Photo by Aracari
Location: Sao Paulo Botanical Gardens, Brazil.

[edit] Identification

L. 64 cm
W. 100 cm
Weight 1-1.5 kg

• Dark brown to blackish
• Yellow-brown throat patch (gular pouch) which at the rear ends in a sharp point
• Brownish feathering in the lores and area just above the lores

[edit] Breeding

• White tufts on the sides of the head
• Throat patch develops a white edge

[edit] Juvenile

Brownish

[edit] Similar species

Compare especially to Double-crested Cormorant which differ in being larger and stockier, having shorter tail, rounded gular pouch, and yellow bare skin in the loral and supraloral area. Juvenile Double-crested Cormorant is paler on the breast and sometimes even head and neck when compared to same age Neotropic.

[edit] Distribution

North America: Mexico, Arizona, southern Texas, and locally in New Mexico. Accidental vagrant to California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Illinois, Alabama and most remarkably Ontario¹. The regular occurrence in Arizona is the result of a recent range expansion.
In the Caribbean found in Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and Cuba.
Central America and South America: found throughout, including Tiera del Fuego at the southern tip of South America. The name, which hints that this is a tropical species therefore is wrong.

[edit] Taxonomy

Two subspecies are recognized, brasilianus and mexicanus. Some field guides² still use Phalacrocorax olivaceus for this species.

[edit] Habitat

Sea shores, lakes, and marshes. It can be found in salt water, brackish water, as well as fresh water habitats.

[edit] Behaviour

Dives from the surface, swimming well under water to chase prey. Often perches on logs, pilings, tree limbs, or even wires, sometimes spreading its wings in the sun to dry. Usually flies low over the surface of open water with strong, rapid wing beats.

[edit] Diet

Includes small fish, but will also eat tadpoles, frogs, crustaceans, and aquatic insects.

[edit] Breeding

The nest is a platform of sticks with a depression in the centre circled with twigs and grass. Up to 5 chalky, bluish-white eggs are laid and are incubated by both parents for about 25–30 days.

[edit] References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
2. 2005 Ontario Bird Records Committee Report (http://www.ofo.ca/obrc/includes/2005OBRCReport.pdf)
3. Ridgely & Gwynne: A guide to the birds of Panama ISBN 0691025126
4. RADAMAKER and CORMAN STATUS OF NEOTROPIC CORMORANT IN ARIZONA WITH NOTES ON IDENTIFICATION AND AGEING

• List of references

[edit] External Links