Cormorants (W)
From WikiBird
Phalacrocoracidae
The Phalacrocoracidae family of birds is represented by about thirty species of cormorants and shags. Cormorants or Shags are medium-to-large seabirds. The majority, including all Northern Hemisphere species, have mainly dark plumage.
They are coastal rather than oceanic birds, and some have colonised inland waters. They range around the world, except for the central Pacific islands.
All are fish-eaters, dining on small eels, fish, and even water snakes. They dive from the surface, though many species make a characteristic half-jump as they dive, presumably to give themselves a more streamlined entry into the water. Under water they propel themselves with their feet.
After fishing, cormorants go ashore to dry their wings by holding them out in the sun. Unusually for a water bird, their feathers are not waterproofed. This may help them dive quickly, since their feathers do not retain air bubbles.
Cormorants are colonial nesters, using trees, rocky islets, or cliffs. The eggs are a chalky-blue colour. There is usually one brood a year. The young are fed through regurgitation.
- Long-tailed Cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus)
- Crowned Cormorant (Phalacrocorax coronatus)
- Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus)
- Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger)
- Little Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos)
- Pallas's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax perspicillatus)
- Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)
- Flightless Cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi)
- Bank Cormorant (Phalacrocorax neglectus)
- Black-faced Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscescens)
- Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)
- Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
- Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis)
- Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius)
- Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)
- Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
- Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus)
- Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis)
- Cape Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capensis)
- Guanay Cormorant (Phalacrocorax bougainvillii)
- Kerguelen Shag (Phalacrocorax verrucosus)
- Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps)
- Antarctic Shag (Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis)
- South Georgia Shag (Phalacrocorax georgianus)
- Campbell Island Shag (Phalacrocorax campbelli)
- Rough-faced Shag (Phalacrocorax carunculatus)
- Bronzed Shag (Phalacrocorax chalconotus)
- Chatham Islands Shag (Phalacrocorax onslowi)
- Auckland Islands Shag (Phalacrocorax colensoi)
- Bounty Islands Shag (Phalacrocorax ranfurlyi)
- Rock Shag (Phalacrocorax magellanicus)
- Red-faced Cormorant (Phalacrocorax urile)
- Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)
- European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)
- Red-legged Cormorant (Phalacrocorax gaimardi)
- Spotted Shag (Phalacrocorax punctatus)
- Pitt Island Shag (Phalacrocorax featherstoni)
