Phalacrocorax pygmeus

Phalacrocorax pygmeus - Pygmy Cormorant

Feather characters. Barbules are of medium length (1.1-1.3 mm) and are not, or only slightly pigmented. Occasionally some lightly stippled pigment is seen in internodes. Borders between cells are visible, but hardly swollen and thus too small to qualify as nodes. These nodal structures (10-15 per mm) have about the same size along the entire length of the barbules, only slightly decreasing towards the tip. Villi are absent and internodes are straight. Minute prongs may be present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum, but they are not always seen.
Field characters. Size 45-55 cm. Weight: male743 g (650-870), female 615 g (565-640) (Dunning, 1993). Much smaller and more agile than Great Cormorant; in flight recalls Coot, but with longer tail and rather small rounded head. In breeding plumage both sexes show dark red-brown head; upperparts glossy greenish black with distinct white specks; black scapulars and upper-wing coverts with grey tinge. White specks absent outside the breeding season, when throat white and breast red-brown. Juvenile with white chin, brown throat and breast, brownish white underparts and yellowish bill.
Voice. Silent; on breeding place a persistent croaking call.
Distribution. Locally relatively abundant in small colonies, but generally uncommon and range is decreasing due to drainage. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Prefers open and standing inland waters, swamps and floodlands. Nests in trees, scrubs or reedbeds in wetlands, often together with herons of various species.
Food. Chiefly fish, obtained by diving.

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