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

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

Range (Guide)

Australia (B).

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

Status LC
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)

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
Great 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

Files:

JPG files for Black-faced Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscescens) - 10 files

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