PELICANIFORMES of The World
The Pelecaniformes order is in a state of flux. The order was originally defined to include birds that have feet with four web toes. Most members also have non functional nostril slits. They feed on fish or similar marine life. However, many of these species have obtained these features by convergemt evolution and not because of common ancestory. At least one new order will probably be formed.
Cormorant
Order disputed Family Phalacrocoracidae
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 Microcarbo
This genus contains the smallest of the cormorants
Cormorant, Crowned Microcarbo coronatus Found: Africa
Photographed by Dick Daniels at Cape Town waterfront, South Africa
Juvenile. Identification based on Birds of Souhern Africa by Kenneth Newman. The white belly contrasts with a juvenile Cape Cormorant. The beak has no hook at the end, contrasted with juvenile Great Cormorant. However, Crowned Cormorants are not found commonly on shore so this ID is not definite.
Cormorant, Little Pied Microcarbo melanoleucos Found: Australia, New Zealand
Photographed 1, 2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels in New Zealand
Cormorant, Reed aka Long-tailed Cormorant Microcarbo Africanus Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Arno Meintjes 2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels at St. Lucia, South Africa
Genus Phalacrocorax
Cormorant,_Black-faced Phalacrocorax fuscescens Found: Australia
Photographed by: 1, 2) JJ Harrison - Tasmania Australia 3, 4) Flying Freddy - Hobart, Tasmania
Cormorant, Brandt's Phalacrocorax penicillatus Found: pacific coast of North America
Photographed by: 1) Mike Baird at Morro Bay,California 2) Alan D Wilson South Harbor Jetty, Moss Landing, California
3) Elaine R Wilson Cove Cliffs, San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park (Ecological Reserve), La Jolla, Californi
Cormorant, Cape aka Cape Shag Phalacrocorax capensis Found: Africa
Photographed by Dick Daniels: 1, 3, 4) Cape Town Peninsular 2, 5) Cape Town waterfront
1, 2) Adult and juvenile
Cormorant, Double-crested Phalacrocorax auritus Found: North America and Central America
Photographed by: 1 - 7) Dick Daniels in North Carolina 8) Dick at Lake Okeechobee, Florida
Immature has a white chest
Comorant, Great Phalacrocorax carbo Found: North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand
See also White-breasted Cormorant.
Cormorant, Guanay Phalacrocorax bougainvillii Found: West coast of South America
Photographed by Charlie Westerinen in the Lima Peru fish market
Cormorant, Indian Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Found: India
Photographed by: 1) Lip Kee Yap - India 2) J M Garg - India
Cormorant, Little Black Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Found: Australia, New Zealand
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Dick Daniels in Australia
3) Juvenile
Cormorant, Neotropic Phalacrocorax brasilianus Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1) Hans Hillewaert - Costa Rica 2, 3) Dario Sanches - Brazil 4) Claudio Timm - Brazil
Cormorant, Pelagic aka Baird's Cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus Found: North America
Photographed by: 1) Kevin Cole - Morro Rock on the Pacific Coast of USA 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Kachemak Bay, Alaska
Cormorant, Pied aka Australian Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius Found: Australia, New Zealand
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels in New Zealand
Cormorant, Red-legged Phalacrocorax gaimardi Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Nanosmile - Argentina
Cormorant, White-breasted Phalacrocorax lucidus Found: sub-Sharan Africa
The White-breasted Cormorant is sometimes considered to be a sub species of the Great Cormorant. It is the only form of Great
Cormorant found in sub-Saharan Africa.
Shag, European Phalacrocorax aristotelis Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Andreas Trepte 2) MPF - Farne Islands, Northumberland, UK
Shag, Imperial aka South Georgia Shag aka Imperial Comorant Phalacrocorax atriceps Found: South America, Antarctic region
Photographed by: 1) Calyponte Beagle Channel, southern Argentina 2) Charlie Westerinen at Ushuaia, Argentina in the Beagle Channel
Shag, Antarctic aka Antarctic Cormorant Phalacrocorax (atriceps) bransfieldensis Found: Antarctic region
This may be a subspecies of the Imperial Shag, it is a matter of debate.
Shag, Rock Phallacrocorax Magellanicus Found: South America (Patagonia, Argentina)
Photographed by: 1) Arthur Chapman near Ushuaia, Argentina
Shag, Spotted Phalacrocorax punctatus Found: New Zealand
Photographed by: 1) Brian Gratwicke - South Island, New Zealand
2) Sid Mosdell -Queen Charlotte Sound, Marlborough, New Zealand
All images on this website are protected by copyright (owned by the photographer).
Please contact Dick Daniels to determine whether specific photos can be copied.
Please contact Dick Daniels to determine whether specific photos can be copied.