Little Black Cormorant
Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
The Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) is a common cormorants and shag found in 10 countries, weighing about 995 g. The little black cormorant is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds.
About the Little Black Cormorant
The little black cormorant is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It is common in smaller rivers and lakes throughout most areas of Australia and northern New Zealand, where it is known as the little black shag. It is around sixty centimetres long, and is all black with blue-green eyes.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The little black cormorant is a small cormorant measuring 60–65 cm (23.5–25.5 in) with all black plumage. The back has a greenish sheen. In breeding season, white feathers appear irregularly about the head and neck, with a whitish eyebrow evident. The plumage is a more fade brown afterwards. Males and females are identical in plumage. The long slender bill is grey, and legs and feet black. The iris of the adult is green and the juvenile brown. Immature birds have brown and black plumage.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in France, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu.
When to see it
The Little Black 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 a Little Black Cormorant?
- The little black cormorant is a small cormorant measuring 60–65 cm (23.5–25.5 in) with all black plumage. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Little Black Cormorant?
- The Little Black Cormorant is a large sized bird weighing about 995 g.
- Where can you see a Little Black Cormorant?
- The Little Black Cormorant occurs in 10 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.
- What birds look similar to a Little Black Cormorant?
- The Little Black Cormorant is most easily confused with the Australian Pied Cormorant, the Indian Cormorant and the Cape Cormorant.
- Is the Little Black Cormorant endangered?
- The Little Black Cormorant is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Little Black Cormorant for real
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