Neotropic Cormorant Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesNeotropic Cormorant
Breeding adult
Large waterbird with a long tail and neck, but small for a cormorant. Breeding birds have thin white plumes on the head and a yellow chin outlined in white, forming a V shape.
© Darren Clark / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, March 16, 2015Juvenile
Large waterbird, although smaller than other cormorants. Juveniles have a brown head, neck, and breast.
© Carlos Funes / Macaulay LibraryFrancisco Morazán, March 11, 2017A small cormorant with a short, hooked bill. Note the small patch of orange bordered by a thin white line.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryTexas, February 16, 2022Not all videos have sound
Juvenile
Long-tailed waterbird with a long neck and slender body. Juveniles have a brown head, neck, and breast with a small yellow chin patch.
© Graham Montgomery / Macaulay LibraryTexas, November 30, 2017Adult
Fairly small for a cormorant with a relatively small bill, small head, and long tail.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 26, 2007Not all videos have sound
Adult and juvenile
Found in wetlands, including fresh, brackish, and saltwater habitats. Nests and roosts mostly in trees, but also on cliffs and human-made structures.
© Michael Tromp / Macaulay LibraryAruba, May 21, 2017Juvenile
Small for a cormorant with a short bill. Juveniles have a brown head, neck, and breast.
© Mike Stewart / Macaulay LibraryTexas, August 19, 2016Adult
Nests in small trees and large shrubs. Usually silent except at nest site, where it gives a low-pitched croaking sound.
© Tom Johnson / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 06, 2014Not all videos have sound
Similar SpeciesDouble-crested Cormorant
Breeding adult
Double-crested Cormorants are larger than Neotropic. Breeding adults separated by size and shape of bare skin patch; fully surrounds the bill with a rounded border on Double-crested, but is only below the eye with a triangular border on Neotropic.
© Mark Sawyer / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 10, 2017Similar SpeciesDouble-crested Cormorant
Juvenile
Larger than Neotropic Cormorants. Juveniles have a paler neck and breast than juvenile Neotropic Cormorants.
© Jane Mann / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, February 28, 2017Similar SpeciesAnhinga
Adult male
Anhingas are larger with a much longer neck, tail, and bill than Neotropic Cormorants.
© Peter Kaestner / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, March 06, 2017Similar SpeciesAnhinga
Female/immature
Anhingas are larger with a much longer neck, tail, and bill than Neotropic Cormorants. Females/immatures have a paler neck than juvenile Neotropic Cormormants.
© Ben Leff / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, March 26, 2017Similar SpeciesRed-breasted Merganser
Breeding male
Red-breasted Mergansers have a shorter tail, a shorter neck, and a longer bill than Neotropic Cormorants. They also have a red (not yellow) bill.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, March 04, 2014Similar SpeciesRed-breasted Merganser
Female/nonbreeding male
Red-breasted Mergansers have a shorter tail, a shorter neck, and a longer bill than Neotropic Cormorants. They also have a red (not yellow) bill.
© Noah Frade / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, February 19, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Cormorants and Shags(Order: Suliformes, Family: Phalacrocoracidae)
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