Nannopterum brasilianum
The Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) is a sleek, medium-sized aquatic bird, distinguishing itself with its predominantly glossy black plumage that can show a greenish sheen, particularly during breeding season. Adults typically measure 63-76 cm (25-30 in) in length, possess a wingspan of approximately 99-106 cm (39-42 in), and weigh between 1.1-1.5 kg (2.4-3.3 lbs). A key identification feature is its small, sharply hooked bill, alongside a characteristic yellow or orange gular p...
Predominantly found in a wide variety of freshwater environments, including lakes, rivers, ponds, and reservoirs, but also coastal estuaries, brackish lagoons, and mangroves, typically at low to moderate elevations.
Primarily piscivorous, feeding almost exclusively on small to medium-sized fish caught through pursuit-diving; occasionally consumes aquatic invertebrates like crustaceans.
Neotropic Cormorants are highly social and diurnal, often found foraging and roosting in large, mixed-species flocks. They exhibit a characteristic 'wing-spreading' posture, holding their wings out to dry after diving, as their feathers are not fully waterproof, aiding in buoyancy control underwa...
The Neotropic Cormorant boasts an extensive geographic distribution, spanning from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, southwards across most of South America to Tierra del Fuego. In the US, its breeding range is primarily concentrated in Texas, Louisian...
Least Concern
- The Neotropic Cormorant was historically known as the 'Olivaceous Cormorant' and was recently reclassified from the genus *Phalacrocorax* to *Nannopterum* after genetic studies revealed its distinct lineage from Old World cormorants. - Unlike many aquatic birds, their feathers are not fully wat...