Sharpen Your Cormorant ID Skills!
Cormorants are masters of fishing, found from Africaâs wild coasts to inland waterholes and rivers. But with several species often sitting side by side, how do you tell them apart? Hereâs your quick SafariSnaps guide:
đCoastal SpecialistsCape Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capensis) Build: Slender, glossy black with greenish sheen Eye: Bright turquoise Throat: Orange-yellow patch Habitat: Large coastal colonies, harbours Tip: Dives in big, tight groups
Bank Cormorant (P. neglectus) Build: Heavy, with peaked forecrown Eye: Bi-coloured - golden brown above, teal/blue below (young birds turquoise) Throat: Plain dark face Habitat: Rocky shores, kelp beds (WCape & Namibia) Tip: Usually in pairs/small groups
Crowned Cormorant (Microcarbo coronatus) Build: Small, compact, short bill Eye: Red Face: Orange-red skin at bill base Habitat: SW African coasts, rocky bays, kelp beds Tip: Think âstubbyâ compared to Reed
đżWidespreadWhite-breasted Cormorant (P. carbo lucidus) Build: Largest, with bold white neck & breast Eye: Greenish to turquoise-green Habitat: Coasts, rivers, dams, lakes across Africa Tip: Perches high on trees, pylons
Reed / Long-tailed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus) Build: Small, slender, long tail; chestnut-brown neck Eye: Red (juveniles greyâbrown) Habitat: Freshwater rivers, lakes, wetlands Tip: Perches on reeds & branches; quick dives.
Next time youâre at Stony Point, or scanning waterholes inland, put these clues together and nail your ID!
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