Neotropic Cormorant
(Phalacrocorax brasilianus (=olivaceus))
Facts
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IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)
Facts about this animal
The neotropic cormorant is a large, dark waterbird with a long hooked bill and a long tail. The neck is long and often S-shaped. The adult plumage is mainly black, with a yellow throat patch. Length is about 65 cm, with a wingspan of youth 1 m and a weight of 1 to 1.5 kg. The sexes are similar in appearance and size.
Neotropical cormorants breed in often very large colonies. Breeding occurs all year round with locally varying peaks. Stick nests lined with grass or sea weed are built in trees or bushes, or on rocky ground. A clutch consists of usually 3-4 eggs, which are incubated for about 30 days. The hatchlings are naked and will grow black down.
Neotropical cormorants feed on small fish, frogs, tadpoles, crustaceans and aquatic. insects.
Did you know?
that, after feeding, cormorants need to dry their wings? They do not have oil in their skin to protect their feathers from getting wet, like ducks and other water birds do.
| Factsheet | |
|---|---|
| Class | AVES |
| Order | PELECANIFORMES |
| Suborder | PELECANI |
| Family | PHALACROCORACIDAE |
| Name (Scientific) | Phalacrocorax brasilianus (=olivaceus) |
| Name (English) | Neotropic Cormorant |
| Name (French) | Cormoran vigua |
| Name (German) | Olivenscharbe |
| Name (Spanish) | Pato yeco |
| Local names | Portuguese: Biguá |
| CITES Status | Not listed |
| CMS Status | Not listed |
Photo Copyright by
Hans Hillewaert
Distribution
| Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Range | South America, Central America, Mexico and Southern USA |
| Habitat | Found in a wide variety of aquatic habitats: marshy ponds, coastal waters, inland fresh water and brackish water. |
| Wild population | This species has a large global population estimated to be 2,000,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2002). Numbers declined sharply in the mid 20th century, but has since recovered. |
| Zoo population | 39 reported to ISIS (2007, Phalacrocorax olivaceus) |
In the Zoo
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How this animal should be transported
For air transport, Container Note 21 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.
Find this animal on ZooLex
Photo Copyright by
Luis Argerich
Why do zoos keep this animal
The neotropic cormorant is not a threatened species in the wild. It is kept primarily for educational purposes to demonstrate one of the ways birds have adapted to aquatic habitats. It can also serve as an ambassador species for these aquatic habitats which, in many cases, are threatened due to pollution, urbanization and other human activities.