adult; blackish body; orange-red face; long tail (South Africa; 2007-07-05)


Crowned Cormorant
Phalacrocorax coronatus

Native Range: Africa

Notes: this species is the saltwater counterpart of the freshwater-favoring Reed Cormorant; compared to other marine cormorants in southern Africa, it has a smaller body and a noticeably shorter, stubby-looking bill; it also has a red iris, unlike some other cormorants that have blue or green eyes; this species has a small crest (most evident in the breeding season) that gives the bird its name; no sexual dimorphism.

adult in flight; note the rather stubby bill (South Africa; 2007-07-05)
pair, with one of the birds drying its wings (South Africa; 2007-07-05)

small flock (South Africa; 2007-07-05)
juvenile; more brownish, especially on the neck (South Africa; 2007-07-05)

juvenile swimming; note the brown neck (South Africa; 2007-07-05)
dorsal view of juvenile; note the long tail (South Africa; 2007-07-05)

with a noticeably larger Cape Cormorant in rear (South Africa; 2007-07-05)
head portrait of juvenile (South Africa; 2007-07-05)