Bird Guide

Brandt's Cormorant vs Reed 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
Reed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus)

Reed Cormorant

Microcarbo africanus

Large545 gWetland

This is a small cormorant, 50–55 cm (20–22 in) in overall length with a wingspan of 80–90 cm (31–35 in). It is mainly black, glossed green, in the breeding season. The wing coverts are silvery. It has a longish tail, a short head crest and a red or yellow face patch. The bill is yellow. The sexes are similar, but non-breeding adults and juveniles are browner, with a white belly. Some southern races retain the crest all year round.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa · CC BY 2.0

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