Black-faced Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscescens)

Sexes similar, male larger.

Adults: Above, black. Below, white. Black-and-white border starts below the eye. Thighs, black. Eye, blue-green. Naked face. Chin, black. Bill, black. Feet, black.

Immatures: General plumage dusky above, white below, patched brown. Naked face, pale buff. Naked chin, pink. Eye, brown. Feet, brown.

Downy Young: Grey mottled with white below. Bill, grey. Feet, grey. Gular pouch, flesh-yellow.

Other Names (World)
Black-faced Cormorant, Black-faced Shag, Black-and-white Shag, White-breasted Cormorant

Family
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants)

Size
60 - 70 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Vieillot, 1817)

Derivation
Phal'-a-cro-cor'-ax - Gk, phalacros, bald; Gk, corax, crow or raven: fus-ces'-cens - L., becoming brown

Abundance (Guide)
MC

Common to abundant on the southern coasts of mainland Australia and Tasmania, south-east of NSW around to south-west of WA.

Habitat
Coastal waters, islands, larger bays, deep inlets. Ashore mostly on isolated rock-stacks, remote rocky headlands. Seldom on beaches.

Range (Guide)

Australia (B).

Coastal Victoria and South Australia. Also in the Recherche Archipelago and the adjacent mainland coast of Western Australia. Coastal Tasmania and the islands of Bass Strait.

Rarity Status
View Rarity Status Information

Population
Estimated population is 20,000 - 49,999 (2010).

Status LC
Probably secure.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Food
Aquatic life, especially fish.

Voice
Male loud and gutteral, female a soft hoars hissing, during courting. Males gurgle to advertise. Mostly silent away from nest.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files

Black-faced Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscescens) [XC531809]
by id from Lake Alexandrina, Near Poltalloch and Narrung Ferry, Coorong District Council, South Australia, Australia (call)

Breeding Season (Guide)
Mainly September - January.

Nest
A large mounded cap, composed of seaweed and flotsam and placed on the ground or on a ledge of rock. Breeds in large colonies.

Eggs (Guide)
Up to 5, usually 3; limy green; oval; about 57 x 36 mm. Incubation: by both sexes.

Young
Altricial, nidicolous.

Subspecies
No subspecies.

Similar Species
Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius), in immature birds the bill is paler than that of Black-faced. Facial skin yellowish. Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos), which is much smaller and has a stubby bill, yellow on the side.

References
See References.

The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9

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