Crowned Cormorant
NameCrowned Cormorant
Common NameCrowned Cormorant
Scientific NamePhalacrocorax coronatus
FamilyPhalacrocoracidae
Wingspan (cm)85
Length (cm)52.5
Weight (g)650
Plumage DetailsAdults are entirely glossy black with a slight greenish sheen. They possess a distinctive bright red eye and a small, bare orange-yellow gular pouch. During the breeding season, a short, erect crest (the 'crown') develops on the forehead, which is often absent or less prominent outside of breeding.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent when foraging or resting. At breeding colonies, they produce a range of low grunts, growls, and hissing sounds, particularly during courtship and territorial disputes.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Geographic RangeEndemic to the cold Benguela Current region along the coast of southern Africa, ranging from Namibia southwards to the Western Cape of South Africa.
Identifying Featuressmall size for a cormorant, entirely black plumage, bright red eye, small orange-yellow gular pouch, short crest (breeding adults), restricted to southern African coastal waters
Description
The Crowned Cormorant is a small, slender cormorant endemic to the coasts of southern Africa. It is an agile diver, feeding primarily on fish in shallow coastal waters and estuaries. This species is often seen perched on rocks or jetties, drying its wings.
