Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

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Family

Phalacrocoracidae

Genus

Phalacrocorax

Species

sulcirostris

Common Names

Little Black Cormorant, Little Black Shag

Distinguishing Features

This medium sized water bird is 55-65cm and entirely black in colour. It has a dark grey, narrow bill with a hooked tip and dark webbed feet. It has bright jade-green coloured eyes. At the beginning of the breeding season, a small patch of white feathers appears at the side of the head. Young birds have a dark brown, spotty appearance with a brown eye.

Survey Techniques

Call and visual identification.

Species Call

This bird is usually silent, with occasional ticking and croaking.

Similar Species

The Great Cormorant (Phalocrocorax carbo) is much larger and has yellow facial markings, while the Little Pied Cormorant (Phalocrocorax melanoleucos) is similarly sized with obvious white underparts and a yellow bill.

Distribution

This species is common to areas across Australia with good inland water bodies. It is also found in part of Indonesia, New Guinea and New Zealand.

Country of Origin

Australia

Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - Regional

This species is slightly less common around this region than the Little Pied Cormorant (Phalocrocorax melanoleucos) and is very rare, sometimes seen at Lake Burley Griffin or at the Jerrabomberra Wetlands.

Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - National

Secure, not listed under the EPBC Act 1999.

LSCCES Population

A few sightings were made on the lake's edge in Civic West and on the ANU campus.

Associated vegetation community

This species will inhabit a variety of inland waters such as lakes, river pools, farm dams, deep-water swamps, lagoons and estuaries.

Limiting Resources

The Little Black Cormorant prefers to inhabit large, deep waterbodies surrounded by thick vegetation and holding a large number of fish species. Areas choosen for breeding must have trees standing in the water. Rainfall is important, as they will only breed when water levels around wetlands are extremely high.

Breeding

The Little Black Cormorant breeds in response to good rain conditions. They prefer to build their nests in trees that stand in the water, as far away from land as possible. They generally nest with other similar waterbird species, such as other cormorants, darters, herons, ibis and spoonbills. The nest can be at any height where a good branch is available, built into a platform of sticks and reeds, with soft bark and feather lining. Their 3-5 eggs are white with a faint blue-green tint, needing 3-4 weeks of incubation by both parents.

 

Behaviour

This species travels with strong, rapid wingbeats and smooth glides, keeping together in a neat 'V' formation. They spend time in groups, feeding cooperatively on fish with leap-frogging and diving actions. They are most often seen sunning themselves, perched on dead tree branches, poles or boats with wings slightly spread.

Functional Group

Carnivore

Food Species

The thin bill of this waterbird allows it to take a wide range of aquatic animals as prey, grouping together to herd large schools of fish.

Predators

Feral Pigs (Sus Scrofa) are known to push through wetland vegetation, destroying nests and eggs. European Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes), Dogs (Canis familiaris) and Cats (Felis catus) will also attack young birds.

Interesting Fact

Hundreds of birds group together to herd fish, birds at the back leap-frogging over those in the front to dive underwater.