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Little Pied CormorantAlternative name: "Little Black-and-white Shag" Size: 55-60 cm |
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Habitat |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Little Pied 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 Torres and Bass Straits. They are only occasionally, after significant rainfall, found in the arid interior of WA, the central and south-western NT and western SA.
Little Pied Cormorants can be found in basically any type of aquatic habitat, from a small farm dam to open waters (both fresh and saline).
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Sightings |
Little Pied Cormorants are a relatively common sight along waterways in eastern Australia.
We first spotted Little Pied Cormorants on Dangars Lagoon, a few kilometers from Uralla, Northern Tablelands of NSW. They are visibly smaller than their larger cousins, i.e. Pied Cormorants, which measure a metre or more.
Seen also in the area of Maules Creek, Barraba and Manilla, NSW, and around Narrabri Lake, Narrabri, NSW.
Spotted in various locations along the coast of NSW, from Myall Lakes National Park to Bouddi National Park, in June 2009.
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Photos |
Near-frontal view of a Little Pied Cormorant; the absence of bare
skin, the white flanks and its size make the identification certain
Dorsal view of a Little Pied Cormorant
Little Pied Cormorant in flight
Flock of Little Pied Cormorants on the shore of Dangar
Lagoon, outside Uralla, NSW
Immature Little Pied Cormorant sitting on a horizontal branch
The same bird as shown above, now seen preening
Immature Little Pied Cormorant drying its wings
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Aug - 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 Pied Cormorants breed Jan - Apr. 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, lined with leaves | Height above ground: 3 - 20 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: 48 x 33 mm | Colour: Light blue, with chalky white coating | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
Little Pied Cormorants were seen by us diving and hunting in a pack, proceeding through shallow water in a bow-shaped configuration.
Even a water surface as small as the pool at the base of a (small) waterfall is enough for a bird to try its luck.
Little Pied Cormorant waiting for intruders to disappear...
... before going back to the important business of hunting
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Food |
Like all other members of the Phalacrocorax family, Little Pied Cormorants feed on fish and crustaceans.
This bird has caught itself a meal - the prey looks like the tail of a yabbie
