Australian Pied Cormorant
Phalacrocorax varius
The Australian Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius) is a common cormorants and shag found in 2 countries, weighing about 1.9 kg. The Australian pied cormorant, also known as the pied cormorant, pied shag, or great pied cormorant, is a medium-sized member of the cormorant family.
About the Australian Pied Cormorant
The Australian pied cormorant, also known as the pied cormorant, pied shag, or great pied cormorant, is a medium-sized member of the cormorant family. It is found around the coasts of Australasia. In New Zealand, it is usually known either as the pied shag or by its Māori name of kāruhiruhi. Older sources may refer to it as the "yellow-faced cormorant".
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The pied cormorant is predominantly black on its back and upper surface of the wings and white on the underside with males weighing approximately 2.2 kg (4.9 lb) and females 1.7 kg (3.7 lb). It stands between 65 and 85 cm (26 and 33 in) tall, with a wingspan of 110–130 cm (43–51 in). A small yellow patch between the bill and the eye on each side of the head is likely to have been the reason for the historical common name. It has large webbed feet which it utilises to pursue fish underwater, steering with half opened wings.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Australian Pied Cormorant can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Australian Pied Cormorant?
- The pied cormorant is predominantly black on its back and upper surface of the wings and white on the underside with males weighing approximately 2.2 kg (4.9 lb) and females 1.7 kg (3.7 lb). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Australian Pied Cormorant?
- The Australian Pied Cormorant is a huge sized bird weighing about 1.9 kg.
- Where can you see an Australian Pied Cormorant?
- The Australian Pied Cormorant occurs in 2 countries, including Australia and New Zealand.
- What birds look similar to an Australian Pied Cormorant?
- The Australian Pied Cormorant is most easily confused with the Indian Cormorant, the Cape Cormorant and the Little Black Cormorant.
- Is the Australian Pied Cormorant endangered?
- The Australian Pied Cormorant is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Australian Pied Cormorant for real
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