Cape cormorant

Introduction: Cape cormorants (Phalacrocorax capensis) are restricted to inshore marine habitats such as estuaries and lagoons, with roosting colonies preferring coastal sites, such as islands and wetlands, or beaches and saltpans, that are protected from predators. Black-backed jackals, brown hyena, cheetah, lion, Cape fur seal and domestic dogs prey on sick or injured birds along the Namibian coastline.

Distribution: Coastal Namibian range, including Cape Cross, Ichaboe Island, Swakopmund.

Diet: Forages offshore with Cape gannets, gulls and terns for sardines, mackerel, anchovy and other small fish and crustaceans.

Description: Overall blue-black plumage with white filoplumes on head, neck and vent. Flight feathers are black. Often confused with the bulkier bank cormorant.

Breeding: Usually 1 to 4 eggs are laid from October to February in a loose pile of feathers, bones, dry seaweed and sticks on offshore islands, cliffs, islands in coastal wetlands and man-made guano platforms.

Size: 60cm.

Weight: 1.3kg.

Wingspan: 110cm.