The current trend is to have cormorants and shags in one family, Phalacrocoracidae, and to have the ahningas and darters in another, Phalacrocoracidae. However, these species are very similar so it would not be surprising to have them combined into one family again. A major characteristic that unites them is the lack of an oil gland for waterproofing their wings. Thus cormorants and anhingas are often seen with their wings spread out to dry their feathers.

Cormorants and shags are medium-to-large seabirds. Whether a species is call a cormorant or shag is a matter of local naming preference. They are distributed around the world, except for the central Pacific islands. They range in size from 45-100 cm. The majority have mainly dark plumage, but some species are black and white. Many species have areas of colored skin on the face which can be bright blue, orange, red or yellow. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet have webbing between all four toes, as in their relatives. They are coastal rather than oceanic birds. All are fish-eaters, dining on small eels, fish, and even water snakes. They dive from the surface. Under water they propel themselves with their feet. [abstracted from Wikipedia]


Genus Phalacrocorax

Cormorant, Guanay Phalacrocorax bougainvillii Found: West coast of South America
Photographed by Charlie Westerinen - the Lima Peru fish market


Cormorant, Neotropic Phalacrocorax brasilianus   Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1) Hans Hillewaert - Costa Rica  2, 3) Dario Sanches  - Brazil    4) Claudio Timm - Brazil


Cormorant, Red-legged  Phalacrocorax gaimardi  Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Nanosmile - Argentina


Shag, Imperial also South Georgia Shag also Imperial Comorant  Phalacrocorax atriceps  Found: South America, Antarctic region
Photographed by: 1) Calyponte Beagle Channel, southern Argentina 2) Charlie Westerinen - Ushuaia, Argentina in the Beagle Channel


Shag, Rock  Phallacrocorax Magellanicus  Found: South America  (Patagonia, Argentina)
Photographed by: 1) Arthur Chapman near Ushuaia, Argentina







Anhingas and cormorants are extremely similar as regards their body and leg skeletons. But unlike the cormorants, anhingas typically inhabit fresh water lakes, rivers, marshes, swamps, and are less often found near salt water. They have completely webbed feet, and their legs are short and set far back on the body. The males have black and dark brown plumage, a short erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have a much paler plumage, and are a bit larger overall.

Genus Anhinga

Anhinga  Anhinga anhinga   Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Florida
      2, 3) Dick - Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge    4, 5) Dick - Jacksonville, Florida