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Cape cormorant

Phalacrocorax capensis

Photo by Jared Hersch
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

The Cape cormorant is an almost entirely glossy black bird, though in breeding condition it has a purplish tinge and a few white plumes on head, neck, and cloacal areas. Its gular skin is a deep orangey yellow; unusually for a cormorant, its lores are feathered. The bird's wing is about 240–280 mm in extent, and it weighs 800-1,600 grams, with little sexual dimorphism.

Notes:

the IUCN now classifies it as "Endangered" due to a very rapid decline in the population over the last three generations.

Reference Links:

Cape cormorant

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (17)
Leuba Ridgway
Congratulations Jared ! I hope they find some security and thrive.
Liana
Fantastic shot! Congratulations Jared :)
Ozbird
Congrats! Great shot!
The MnMs
Congratulations! is indeed a lovely moment between these two :-)
suzmonk
Nice ... congratulations!
Maria dB
Wonderful spotting - congratulations!
KarenL
Congrats Jared, your wonderful interaction has earned you Spotting of the Day! As recently as 30 years the breeding population of Cape cormorants was estimated to be over 1 million in Namibia alone. Sadly their numbers have declined rapidly and the IUCN now classifies the species as "Endangered". Facebook: https://upload.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/a.10150595289465603.674700.10150120463815603/10154398612625603/?type=1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/492142391961210880
The MnMs
Beautiful social interaction :-)

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Photographed
PublishedJuly 22, 2014

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