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Project Noah Nature School
Microcarbo africanus
A bird in the family Phalacrocoracidae. It breeds in Africa south of the Sahara, and Madagascar. It is resident but undertakes some seasonal movements. This is a small cormorant at 50–55 cm length and an 85 cm wingspan.
Rock formation in a small river
The Reed Cormorant can dive to considerable depths, but usually feeds in shallow water. It frequently brings prey to the surface. It takes a wide variety of fish. It prefers small slow-moving fish, and those with long and tapering shapes, such as mormyrids, catfishes, and cichlids. It will less frequently eat soles (which can be important in its diet locally), frogs, aquatic invertebrates, and small birds. This is a common and widespread species, and is not considered to be threatened. It breeds on freshwater wetlands or quiet coasts.
Daniele, they leave tomorrow back to the cold Sweden. They seem to be very happy for the nature experience from this part of the world.
There are a few spottings I look forward to upload indeed. I enjoy learning about what I see, and it always opens new and unexpected doors to interesting knowledge :)
You're welcome! I hope your holiday with your family is going well. and that you'll bring many spottings :-)
Thank you Bayucca for the right direction! I have never seen a Cormorant down here before, so it was valuable information. And thank you Daniele for the confirmation of the species! Again, happy holidays to both of you!
Hi Tina and Domi! With the red eye, yellow-orange face and location it can only be the Reed Cormorant. The bird is almost adult in plumage (has lost most of the white on the breast and has white-spotted shoulders and wings).
Far from the ocean...?? Uups! Tja, in this case, my suggestion might be a little bit out of the range...
This one is tricky for me Bay. The spotting was far from the Ocean, so perhaps it is a young reed cormorant?
Looks a little bit like a teeny Phalacrocorax coronatus?
Please, verify. There are only 6 cormorants in South Africa and this one seems for to be the one, maybe a youngster?
Spotted on Dec 13, 2013
Submitted on Dec 28, 2013
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