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Pygmy Cormorant
(Microcarbo pygmaeus)
 German name(s): "Zwergscharbe"
Size: 45-55 cm; wing span: 80-90 cm
Weight: 565-870 g
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Similar
species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Pygmy Cormorants are small cormorants.
Their plumage
is almost all dark-grey to glossy black, with the typical
scalloping visible on the back that can be found in all
species of cormorants. In
courtship
the head is dark brownish-grey, with a small crest. In
eclipse
they have a grey throat patch and the rest of the
plumage
being dark-grey to glossy black.
Pygmy Cormorants have a noticeably shorter light-grey bill
than other species of cormorants, with a comparatively
large head, giving them a "baby face" appearance.
The legs and fully webbed feet are dark-grey. The irises
are dark.
Juvenile
Pygmy Cormorants are paler and more greyish-brown than
adults.
Especially the face and the front, down to the chest, can be
very light.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Pygmy
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, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Pygmy Cormorant is available
HERE
.
Pygmy Cormorants are a partly sedentary and partly migratory
or dispersive species.
The overall distribution of the Pygmy Cormorant ranges from
south-eastern Europe via Asia Minor into south-western and
central Asia.
In the southern parts of their range (parts of western Asia
Minor, Anatolia, near-coastal areas in Lebanon/Israel/Jordan,
the Euphrates/Tigris river system and the southern coastline
of the Caspian Sea and along the slopes of the Caucasus) they
are sedentary or dispersive (during the winter months).
Mostly in the nothern parts of their range (along the northern
coastlines of the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea and in suitable
locations in central Asia) they are summer breeding migrants.
Sometimes vagrants also reach Cyprus.
In Europe, except for a few exceptions in eastern Italy and
vagrants into central Europe, Pygmy Cormorants are found in
south-eastern Europe (parts of the Balkans, parts of the
Adriatic coastline and parts of northern Greece, as well as
the lower Danube river valley, in particular the Danube
Delta). In those regions they are sedentary or dispersive
during the winter months. There are a few breeding sites
further North where they are summer migrants, mostly along
the northern coastline of the Black Sea.
During the breeding season Pygmy Cormorants have a strong
preference for well vegetated fresh water habitats, around
lakes and pools. During the winter months they can disperse
into wetlands with more saline water, including estuaries,
but mostly they will hunt in submerged grassland, pasture
or fields with remnant (often dead) trees.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
M. Eaton reports spotting a single Pygmy Cormorant at Krka
Waterfalls, near Split, Croatia, in September 2019.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this
page has kindly been contributed by M. Eaton.
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Photos |
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Near-frontal view of a juvenile Pygmy Cormorant
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Krka Waterfalls, near Split, Croatia, September 2019]
Near-lateral view of a juvenile Pygmy Cormorant
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Krka Waterfalls, near Split, Croatia, September 2019]
Lateral view of a juvenile Pygmy Cormorant; note the short
bill and short neck compared to the size of the head, making
it look "baby-faced"
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Krka Waterfalls, near Split, Croatia, September 2019]
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.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
