Bird Guide

Brandt's Cormorant vs Little Cormorant

Brandt's Cormorant (Urile penicillatus)

Brandt's Cormorant

Urile penicillatus

Huge2.2 kgMarine

The average size of a Brandt's cormorant is 4.6 pounds. They have a length of about 34 inches and their wingspan is 4 feet. During the breeding season, adults have a blue throat patch.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: verygreen · CC BY 2.0
Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger)

Little Cormorant

Microcarbo niger

Large427 gWetland

The little cormorant is about 50 centimetres (20 in) long and only slightly smaller than the Indian cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis). The Indian cormorant has a narrower and longer bill which ends in a prominent hook tip, blue iris and a more pointed head profile. The breeding adult bird has a glistening all black plumage with some white spots and filoplumes on the face. There is also a short crest on the back of the head. The eyes, gular skin and face are dark. In the non-breeding bird or juvenile, the plumage is brownish and the bill and gular skin can appear more fleshy.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: engagenosey · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Brandt's Cormorant and Little Cormorant.