White-breasted cormorant

Description:

This large bird, about 1m in height, from cormorant family (Phalacrocoracidae) has an all black glossy mantle with white patches on thighs and beige bill with yellow patch at the base. They also sport white throat, chin and breast.

Habitat:

Seen in large numbers in wetlands of Djoudj (Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary), which is a third in size and importance african migratory bird protected area. Djoudj is the wetlands area in delta of river Senegal, and one of the rare ever green oasis in the country.

Notes:

I believe that the discussion about White-breasted cormorant (Phalacrocorax lucidus) being a separate species from great cormorant is still ongoing. Earlier, the P. lucidus was considered a subspecies of P. carbo; and this is still the majority opinion today, as far as I'm aware. The main difference between the two is that the P. lucidus has white breast and throat; and the fact that sub-populations are freshwater birds (The Atlas of Southern African Birds, 1987-1991).