Bird Guide

Flightless Cormorant vs Neotropic Cormorant

Flightless Cormorant (Nannopterum harrisi)

Flightless Cormorant

Nannopterum harrisi

Huge3.0 kgMarine

The flightless cormorant is the largest extant member of its family, 89–100 cm (35–39.5 in) in length and weighing 2.5–5.0 kg (5.5–11.0 lb), and its wings are about one-third the size that would be required for a bird of its proportions to fly. The keel on the breastbone, where birds attach the large muscles needed for flight, is also significantly reduced. Like all cormorants, this bird has webbed feet and sturdy legs that propel it through the water as it seeks its prey of fish, small octopuses, and other little marine creatures.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: James Preston · CC BY 2.0
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum)

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

1.2 kgWetland

This bird is 64 cm (25 in) long with a 100 cm (39 in) wingspan. Adult males weigh from 1.1 to 1.5 kg (2.4 to 3.3 lb), adult females 50 to 100 g (1.8 to 3.5 oz) less. Birds of the southern populations tend to be bigger than the more northerly birds. It is small and slender, especially compared to the larger, heavier-looking double-crested cormorant. It has a long tail and frequently holds its neck in an S-shape. Adult plumage is mainly black, with a yellow-brown throat patch.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Neotropic Cormorant
Recorded by Oliver Komar · Call · El Zamorano, San Antonio de Oriente, Departamento de Francisco Morazán, Honduras · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC0

Where you might meet both

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