Bird Guide

Crowned Cormorant vs Little Cormorant

Crowned Cormorant (Microcarbo coronatus)

Crowned Cormorant

Microcarbo coronatus

Large762 gMarine

The crowned cormorant is 50–55 cm in length. Adults are black with a small crest on the head and a red face patch. Young birds are dark brown above, paler brown below, and lack the crest. They can be distinguished from immature reed cormorants by their darker underparts and shorter tail.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ron Knight · 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: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) · CC BY 3.0

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