Little Black Cormorant
Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Aves › Suliformes › Phalacrocoracidae › Phalacrocorax
Conservation status: least_concern
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.
How To Identify
Medium-sized cormorants characterized by shiny black plumage and powerful bodies. They have distinctive webbed feet used for propulsion in the water.
Habitat
It typically inhabits freshwater and coastal marine environments including lakes, rivers, estuaries, and sheltered bays throughout Australia and nearby regions.
Behaviour
They are highly social birds that often roost and nest in large colonies, frequently seen perched upright on rocks or branches with their wings held open to dry after diving.
Native Range
The little black cormorant ranges from the Malay Peninsula through Indonesia and New Guinea and throughout Australia.
Did You Know?
Little Black Cormorants can dive to depths of over 30 meters and hold their breath for extended periods by collapsing their air sacs, making them exceptionally efficient underwater hunters. Despite their small size, they are among the deepest-diving cormorants in the world.
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