Black-faced Cormorant
NameBlack-faced Cormorant
Common NameBlack-faced Cormorant
Scientific NamePhalacrocorax fuscescens
FamilyPhalacrocoracidae
Wingspan (cm)100
Length (cm)65
Weight (g)1200
Plumage DetailsAdults have glossy black upperparts, head, and neck, contrasting sharply with pure white underparts. A distinct black line extends from the gape to below the eye. The bare skin around the eye is a striking greenish-blue, and the bill is slender, greyish, and hooked with a pale tip.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent when away from breeding colonies. At colonies, they produce a variety of guttural grunts, croaks, and hisses, especially during courtship and nesting.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal, wetland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeEndemic to southern Australia, found along the coastlines of South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and parts of Western Australia and New South Wales.
Identifying FeaturesStriking black and white plumage, Black head and neck with white underparts, Greenish-blue bare skin around the eye, Slender, hooked grey bill, Often seen perching upright on coastal rocks
Description
The Black-faced Cormorant is a medium-sized marine bird characterized by its striking black and white plumage. It is an expert diver, using its powerful webbed feet to pursue and catch fish underwater. These birds are typically found along the southern coastlines of Australia, often perching upright on rocks to dry their wings.
