Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 24 in
61 cm - Wingspan
- 40.2 in
102 cm - Weight
- 37.7–52.9 oz
1070–1500 g
Other Names
- Olivaceous Cormorant, Brazilian Cormorant, Mexican Cormorant
- Cormoran vigua (French)
- Cormorán biquá, Pato negro, Pato puerco, Pato cordo, Cuervo marino (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- The Neotropic Cormorant is the only cormorant known to plunge-dive into water to catch fish. Unlike gannets and boobies, it does not dive from great heights, restricting its dives to less than a half-meter (1.75 feet) over the water. It is not particularly successful with this technique, catching a fish only once in every six to ten plunges.
- In Mexico, Neotropic Cormorants reportedly often fish cooperatively, forming a line across swift-flowing streams and striking the surface with their wings, causing fish to flee, whereupon the cormorants dive and pursue them.
Habitat
Lake/Pond
Various wetlands, including fresh, brackish, and saltwater habitats. Nests and roosts mostly in trees, but also on cliffs and human-made structures.
Food
Fish
Small fish and shrimp.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 1–6 eggs
- Egg Description
- Light blue.
- Condition at Hatching
- Naked and helpless.
Nest Description
A rough bowl of sticks, sometimes cemented together with guano. Placed in trees, but also on cliffs and human-made structures. Nests in colonies.
Nest Placement
Tree
Behavior
Surface Dive
Dives from surface, using feet for propulsion through water. Catches fish under water, then takes prey to surface and swallows it headfirst. Also plunge-dives from above water.
Conservation
Least Concern
In the 1960s, Neotropic Cormorant populations declined severely in Texas; since then, these populations have shown a general trend toward growth. The cause of the declines is not conclusively understood.
Credits
- Telfair, R. C., and M. L. Morrison. 1995. Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus). In The Birds of North America, No. 137 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.