Rock shag

Phalacrocorax magellanicus

Photo by Nick Athanas (Antpitta)

Common name:
rock shag (en); corvo-marinho-das-rochas (pt); cormoran de Magellan (fr); cormorán cuello negro (es); felsenscharbe (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Pelecaniformes
Family Phalacrocoracidae 

Range:
This species breeds along the coasts of southern South America, in Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands. During winter they range north as far as the coasts of Uruguay and the coast of Chile as far north as Valparaíso.

Size:
These birds are 66-71 cm long and have a wingspan of 92 cm. They weigh up to 1,5 kg.

Habitat:
Rock shags forage in coastal water, particularly in kelp beds, favouring areas along rocky coastlines in channels and sheltered bays, and also in harbours, estuaries and inland waters. They typically nests on cliff ledges and on top of steep-sided rocks or islets, as well as in gulleys, caverns and occasionally on exposed shipwrecks and jetties.

Diet:
They forage by pursuit diving, taking small benthic fish, crustaceans, cephalopods and polychaetes.

Breeding:
The rock shag breeds in October-February. They nest in small colonies, which are often occupied throughout the year. Each pair builds a cup-shaped nest from seaweed, tussock grass and leaves, which are cemented together by mud and guano. The female lays 2-5 eggs which are incubated by both parents but there is no information regarding the leght of the incubation period. Chicks are fed by both parent, often even after fledging, but there is no information regarding the length of the fledging period.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as locally common, but not abundant. The population in the Falkland islands has been estimated at 60.000 breeding pairs. Although this species is not threatened at present, increasing levels of pollution by oil and rubbish together with expanding ecotourism industries bringing rising numbers of tourists to seabird colonies by pose some impacts in the future.

Red-legged cormorant

Phalacrocorax gaimardi

Photo by Jose Cañas (Flickr)

Common name:
red-legged cormorant (en); corvo-marinho-de-patas-vermelhas (pt); cormoran de Gaimard (fr); cormorán chuita (es); buntscharbe (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Pelecaniformes
Family Phalacrocoracidae

Range:
This species is found along the Pacific coast of South America, from Isla Foca, in northern Peru, to Peninsula de Taitao, in southern Chile, and also in the Atlantic coast of southern Argentina from Bahia Sanguinetto to the Monte León National Park.

Size:
These birds are 71-76 cm long and have a wingspan of about 90 cm. They weigh 1,2-1,8 kg.

Habitat:
The red-legged cormorant is found in rocky coastlines, nesting in inaccessible cliffs, sea caves and rocky islets, and foraging over shallow coastal waters, usually within 3 km of the breeding colonies.

Diet:
They feed mainly on fish, including Patagonotothen spp., sardines Sprattus fuegensis, Ramnogaster arcuata, eels and anchovies. They also take various marine invertebrates such as bivalves, squids, polychaete worms and crabs.

Breeding:
Red-legged cormorants can breed all year round, varying among different parts of their range. They are monogamous and the nest is a mound of seaweeds, guano and feathers placed in a narrow ledge on a cliff. There the female lays 2-4 white eggs which are incubated for about 30 days. The chicks fledge 60-70 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 30.000 individuals. The population is believed to have declined by 20-30%, mainly due to entanglement is fishing equipment, low food availability caused by over-fishing, and the effects of El Niño events. The expansion of industrial fishing is favourable for its main predator, the kelp gull Larus dominicanus which is known to heavily impact breeding success. Peru, Chile and Argentina have plans to improve their coastal marine protected areas network which could help the red-legged cormorant populations.

Great cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Photo by Björn Dellming (PBase)

Common name:
great cormorant (en); corvo-marinho-de-faces-brancas (pt); grand cormoran (fr); cormorán grande (es); kormoran (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Pelecaniformes
Family Phalacrocoracidae

Range:
This widespread species is found throughout most of Europe, central and southern Asia, north-western and eastern Africa, along the coast of eastern North America, and throughout Australia.

Size:
These large cormorants are 70-100 cm long and have a wingspan of  120-160 cm. They weigh 2,6-3,7 kg.

Habitat:
The great cormorant is found in coastal waters, estuaries, rocky shores, mangroves, large lakes and rivers, and deep marshes, including inland wetlands located far from the coast.

Diet:
They mostly hunt fish, such as sculpins, capelins, gadids, mullets and flatfishes, but also crustaceans, amphibians, molluscs and bird nestlings.

Breeding:
Great cormorants are monogamous and pair bonds may last several years. They nest in colonies of up to 9.000 pairs, each pair nesting in a rocky ledge in a small rocky island or coastal cliff, which they line with twigs. The female lays 3-5 bluish-green eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 28-31 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 45-55 days after hatching, but continue to receive food from the parents for another 2-3 months. They reach sexual maturity at 2-4 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and a global population estimated at 1,4-2,9 million individuals. The overall population trend is increasing, although some populations may be stable and others have unknown trends.

Reed cormorant

Phalacrocorax africanus

Photo by Derek Keats (Flickr)

Common name:
reed cormorant (en); corvo-marinho-africano (pt); cormorant africain (fr); cormorán africano (es); riedscharbe (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Pelecaniformes
Family Phalacrocoracidae

Range:
The reed cormorant is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, including Madagascar, being found from Mauritania to Sudan and down to South Africa.

Size:
These small cormorants are 50-55 cm long and have a wingspan of 85 cm. They weigh 500-600 g.

Habitat:
The reed cormorant is mostly found in wetlands with shallow sheltered waters, fringing vegetation, emergent trees, and gently sloping banks, but can be found in virtually any freshwater wetland within its range with the exception of very fast-flowing streams. They also use inland alkaline lakes, coastal lagoons, estuaries, mangroves and occasionally rocky shores.

Diet:
They hunt a wide range of fishes, frogs, crustaceans, aquatic insects, molluscs and even smaller birds. Cichlid fishes such as Haplochromis sp., Pseudocrenilabrus sp. and Sarotherodon sp. are particularly important prey in some areas.

Breeding:
Reed cormorants can breed all year round, varying between different parts of their range. They are monogamous and usually colonial, often forming mixed colonies with egrets, herons and darters. The nest in built by both sexes, consisting of a messy platform of sticks and dead reeds, with a cup in the centre which is lined with grass. It is typically placed in the fork of a tree over water, or in a large reed bed or even on the ground, but most often 0,5-6 m above the ground. The female lays 3-4 eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 23-24 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 3 weeks after hatching, but only become fully independent some 4 weeks later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and is described as common and widespread. The overall population trend is decreasing, but some population are stable or even increasing as dam construction creates new areas of favourable habitat.

Crowned cormorant

Phalacrocorax coronatus

(Photo from Resim Sitesi)

Common name:

crowned cormorant (en); corvo-marinho-de-coroa (pt); cormoran couronné (fr); cormorán coronado (es); Wahlbergscharbe (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Pelecaniformes

Family Phalacrocoracidae

Range:

The crowned cormorant is endemic to the cold waters of the Benguela current of southern Africa. It can be found along the coasts of Namibia and South Africa between Swakopmund and Cape Agulhas.

Size:

This small cormorant is 50-55 cm in length. They have a wingspan of 85 cm and can weigh up to 800 g.

Habitat:

The species occurs during both the breeding and the non-breeding season along the coastal cliffs of the mainland and offshore islands in the cold waters of the Benguela current. It has never been recorded more than 10 km offshore, or more than 100 m inland. It forages in shallow coastal waters and estuaries, often in kelp beds, among breaking waves or in tidal pools during periods of high tide.

Diet:

The diet is mostly composed of benthic fish, particularly klipfish (Clinidae) and pipefish (Syngnathidae) of up to 16 cm. Shrimps and isopods also form a small part of the diet.

Breeding:

The crowned cormorant breeds in mixed seabird colonies, in sheltered areas of rocks, cliffs, bushes, small trees, kelp wracks, as well as man-made structures including jetties, the supports of guano platforms, wrecked ships and sometimes moored ships. The nest is build with kelp, sticks and finer materials, and it can be used for several years in succession. They lay 2-5 eggs which are incubated for at least 23 days. After hatching the chicks are fed for at least 30 days and become independent after 45-60 days.

Conservation:

IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)

With a population of just 8700 individuals and a restricted breeding range, the crowned cormorant is threatened by human disturbance and mortality due to entanglement in fishing lines. A recent major oil-spill affected some colonies. The recent increase in Cape fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus abundance lead to increased predation, particularly on fledgelings.