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Black-faced CormorantAlternate name(s): "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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Photos |
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
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BREEDING |
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 |
Frontal view of a Black-faced Cormorant in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dunalley, TAS, April 2021]
Frontal view of a Black-faced Cormorant in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dunalley, TAS, April 2021]
Close-up lateral view of a Black-faced Cormorant in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dunalley, TAS, April 2021]
Close-up lateral view of a Black-faced Cormorant in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dunalley, TAS, April 2021]
Lateral view of a Black-faced Cormorant in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dunalley, TAS, April 2021]
Near-dorsal view of a Black-faced Cormorant in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dunalley, TAS, April 2021]
Close-up dorsal view of a Black-faced Cormorant in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dunalley, TAS, April 2021]
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 |
Frontal view of a juvenile Black-faced Cormorant
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dunalley, TAS, April 2021]
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]
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Behaviour |
Black-faced Cormorants are the only exclusively coastal and marine species of cormorants in Australia. They do not venture inland anywhere.
Preening Black-faced Cormorants in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Off southern Tasmania, January 2023]
Small mob of Black-faced Cormorants in non-breeding
plumage
resting on a rock platform
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Off southern Tasmania, January 2023]
Small mob of Black-faced Cormorants in non-breeding
plumage
on a tiny rocky
island
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Off southern Tasmania, January 2023]