Water for the environment: wetlands

	Wetlands Facts about Wetlands Wetland Plants and Animals Birds   Search:  [ HOME ] [ CONTACT ]		The Birds of NSW Wetlands - Cormorants Order - Pelicaniformes Great Cormorant - also called the Black Shag Pied Cormorant Little Black Cormorant Little Pied Cormorant References and Further Reading Great Cormorant - also called the Black Shag Phalacrocorax carbo Source: DLWC General Characteristics: The largest of all the Australian Cormorants. Black plumage with white or grey throat feathers. Breeds in colonies throughout the year. Build nests in trees or shrubs. Plumage is not waterproof. As an underwater hunter, the feathers are actually permeable to allow for decreased buoyancy. When out of the water, they remove water from their feathers, by squeezing their feathers through their bill and using oil from large preen glands situated at the base of the tail. Diet: Fish, crustaceans and insects. Habitat: Seems to prefer freshwater inland wetlands. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius General Characteristics: Similar size to the Great Cormorant but with longer bill and legs. The least nomadic of all the Australian Cormorants. Has a distinctive orange-yellow patch next to its eye. Black back, wings and crown, with a stark white breast and underside. Dark grey bill. Plumage is not waterproof. As an underwater hunter, the feathers are actually permeable to allow for decreased buoyancy. When out of the water, they remove water from their feathers, by squeezing their feathers through their bill and using oil from large preen glands situated at the base of the tail. A diving bird. Nests in trees, shrubs or on man-made platforms. Diet: Fish, crustaceans and molluscs. In coastal areas one of its main food items is bream. Habitat: Most often found in open coastal and subcoastal inlets. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Cormorant Nests Source: DLWC General Characteristics: Black plumage and bill. A sleek bird with a slender bill and long legs. Plumage is not waterproof. As an underwater hunter, the feathers are actually permeable to allow for decreased buoyancy. When out of the water, they remove water from their feathers, by squeezing their feathers through their bill and using oil from large preen glands situated at the base of the tail. Nest in trees and bushes. Diet: Primarily fish. Habitat: Frequent inland lakes and rivers, as well as coastal inlets. Often found with Great and Little Pied Cormorants. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Source: DLWC General Characteristics: An extremely common bird, found around almost any type of waterbody. Black back, wings and crown. White breast, thighs and face. Often has dark yellow toning on face. Stubby body and legs. Have a blunt, hooked bill. Plumage is not waterproof. As an underwater hunter, the feathers are actually permeable to allow for decreased buoyancy. When out of the water, they remove water from their feathers, by squeezing their feathers through their bill and using oil from large preen glands situated at the base of the tail. Nest in colonies in trees, shrubs or on the ground. Form large flocks where food is plentiful. Often found with Little Black Cormorants. Diet: Crustaceans and fish. Habitat: Mainly inhabits freshwater, but can be found in marine waters also. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] References and Further Reading Miller, B. (1979) ‘Ecology of the Little Black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris, and the Little Pied Cormorant, Phalacrocorax melanoleucos, in inland New South Wales. I. Food and Feeding Habits’, Aust. Wildl. Res., 6, pp 79-95. Readers Digest. 1988. Readers Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds. Reader’s Digest, Sydney. Van Tets, G. 1983. Pelican, Darter and Cormorants. Order: Pelicaniformes. In "Wetlands in New South Wales". (Ed C. Haigh). National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW.
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