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Little Black CormorantAlternative name: "Little Shag" Size: 55-65 cm; wing span 1.0 m |
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Habitat |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Little Black Cormorants inhabit basically the entire coastal fringe around Australia, including Tasmania, and the northern tropics, plus the eastern half of the continent. This includes the coastal waters out to the continental shelf and the Torres and Bass Straits. They are not found in the arid interior of WA, the central and south-western NT and western SA.
Little Black Cormorants can be found in basically any type of inland and estuarine aquatic habitat.
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Sightings |
In the Narrabri area, we saw Little Black Cormorants at our former neighbour's billabong, 20 km south of town, in 2005. Later, in March 2009, we found a number of birds on Narrabri Lake. In subsequent years Little Black Cormorants have become permanent residents at Narrabri Lake.
Elsewhere, we spotted Little Black Cormorants on a boat trip on the Greenough River, south of Geraldton, Western Australia, in March 2003.
Also sighted on a trip to the east of the Great Dividing Range in 2004, in the area from Armidale to Dorrigo, NSW. In January 2011 a small breeding colony was spotted at Dangars Lagoon near Uralla, NSW.
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Photos |
Frontal view of a Little Black Cormorant in captivity
Lateral view of a Little Black Cormorant
Little Black Cormorant diving
Here a bird touching down on a lake, eyed suspiciously by a
Dusky Moorhen
Family of Little Black Cormorants hunting at Narrabri Lake
Two slightly different views of a juvenile Little Black Cormorant
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Sep - Dec | Eggs: 3 - 5 | Incubation period: 27 - 28 days | Fledging age: 56 - 70 days |
The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical north Little Black Cormorants breed Feb - May. Given the right conditions, they can breed any time of the year. They breed in colonies, together with other aquatic birds.
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Nest |
| Type: Basket | Material: Sticks, bark, with soft lining | Height above ground: 1 - 30 m |
Colony of Little
Pied Cormorants nesting on a dead tree in Split Rock Dam,
near Manilla, NSW, in August 2008
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also seen in the lower left corner are
two nesting pairs of Little Black Cormorants
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Eggs |
| Size: 49 x 33 mm | Colour: Light blue-green | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Food |
Like all other members of the Phalacrocorax family, Little Black Cormorants feed on fish. We have seen flocks of them hunting in a pack, trapping fish by pushing towards them underwater in a semi-circle.
