Crowned cormorant

Introduction: Crowned cormorants (Phalacrocorax coronatus) inhabit open coast and offshore islands, roosting on boulders, moored boats and piers, avoiding sandy beaches. This species usually fly singly and are seldom observed in groups.

Distribution: From Möwe Bay on the Skeleton Coast south to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, south to Luderitz and the Orange River.

Diet: Forages by a technique known as pursuit diving for mainly klipfish, pipefish, crustaceans, octopus and shrimps.

Description: Coronatus is Latin for 'crowned', referring to the partly erect frontal head crest. Flight feathers and underwing are black in colour. Often confused with Cape and bank cormorants which have longer bills and shorter tails, but lack the prominent frontal head crest.

Breeding: Females lay between 1 and 5 eggs on a platform consisting of sticks, dry seaweed, bones and feathers. Peak Namibian laying dates are from October to March. Incubation lasts for around 20 days.

Size: 50cm.

Weight: 750g.

Wingspan: 85cm.