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Black-faced Cormorant
(Phalacrocorax fuscescens)
: "White-breasted Cormorant", "Black-and-white Shag", "Black-faced Shag"
Size: 60-70 cm; wing span 1 m
Weight: 1.0-1.8 kg
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Black-faced Cormorants are medium-sized, all black-and white
cormorants. Apart from the base of the bill, the entire front,
from the throat down to the undertail coverts, is white. They
have a prominent black cap and facial mask that encompasses
the eyes. The sides of the head, from the ear coverts down
to the sides of the neck, are white. During the breeding season the nape
of the neck is black mottled with short white nuptial plumes
(which then appears to be grey when seen from a distance).
The nuptial plumes disappear in eclipse.
The entire back, from the mantle to the uppertail, including
the wings, is charcoal-black. The flight feathers have a
brownish tinge. Black-faced Cormorants have black
The irises are turquoise. The slender, downcurved bill is
grey; the sturdy legs and fully webbed feet are also grey.
Juvenile
Black-faced Cormorants have duller colours,
with a brownish tinge on the back and also brown irises.
The sides of the neck are finely streaked.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Black-faced
Cormorant at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Black-faced Cormorant is available
HERE
.
Black-faced Cormorants are endemic to Australia. They populate
parts of the Australian South coast, ranging from about the
NSW/VIC border in the East to Cape Leeuwin, WA, in the West.
Their range also includes the entire coastline of Tasmania
and basically all
islands along Bass Strait and the Australian South coast.
Black-faced Cormorants have a preference for coastal waters. They are
often found on
rockshelves on the mainland coastline and small off-shore
islands.
They also make extensive use of manmade structures, such as
jetties, lampposts, marinas, buoys, beacons etc. in
harbours.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
J. Greaves reports spotting Black-faced Cormorants at Kingscote,
Kangaroo Island, SA, in March 2016.
R. Plumtreereports finding an immature Black-faced Cormorant at Ensay,
East Gippsland, VIC, in January 2018. This location is outside
the species' nominal coastal range.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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BREEDING |
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Close-up lateral portrait of a Black-faced Cormorant in breeding
plumage; note the
white nuptial plumes at the nape of the neck (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]
Lateral view of a Black-faced Cormorant drying its breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]
Two Black-faced Cormorants preening; breeding plumage on the left, non-breeding
plumage on the
right (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]
Direct comparison of three different species of cormorants:
Black-faced Cormorant, left to centre, Pied Cormorant, second
from right, and
Little Pied Cormorant, right (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]
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NON-BREEDING |
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Immature
Little Pied Cormorant, front, with two Black-faced
Cormorants behind - in breeding plumage, left, and
non-breeding plumage
(note the entirely black nape of the neck), right
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Near-frontal view of a juvenile Black-faced Cormorant;
note the brown edge-lining on the wing feathers and the
characteristic fine streaking on the neck and cheeks
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2018]
Dorsal view of a juvenile Black-faced Cormorant with its
head turned (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2018]
Black-faced Cormorants are the only exclusively coastal and marine
species of cormorants in Australia.
They do not venture inland anywhere.
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.