It is entirely black above and white below. The face is dusky and, in adult birds, the white of the underside extends to above the eye. White often stained reddish or orangish brown. Non-breeding birds lack crest or frills on head. Juvenile are duller, with darke on head. Immature birds resemble the adults except there is no white above the eye.
Not Threatened.
It is entirely black above and white below. The face is dusky and, in adult birds, the white of the underside extends to above the eye. White often stained reddish or orangish brown. Non-breeding birds lack crest or frills on head. Juvenile are duller, with darke on head. Immature birds resemble the adults except there is no white above the eye.
55-65 cm, 48ý-900 g, wingspan 84-91 cm.
Taxonomy:
- Hydrocorax melanoleucos Vieillot, 1817, Australasie = New South Wales. Frequently placed in Halietor or Microcarbo. Polymorphic race brevirostris may be distinct species. Three subspecies normally recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * melanoleucos (Vieillot, 1817) - E Indonesia to Solomon Is and New Caledonia; Australia and Tasmania; Campbell I. * brevicauda Mayr, 1931 - Rennell I (Solomon Is). * brevirostris Gould, 1837 - New Zealand, Stewart I.
It is at home in either fresh or salt water. It is often seen in large flocks on open waterways and on the coast, especially where large numbers of fish are present. On inland streams and dams, however, it is often solitary. The Little Pied Cormorant mixes readily with the similar sized Little Black Cormorant, P. sulcirostris.Usually requires trees or bushes.
Feed on a wide variety of aquatic animals, from insects to fish. On inland streams and dams they turn to their most favoured food: yabbies (freshwater crayfish). These are caught by deep underwater dives with both feet kicking outward in unison. Other crustaceans are also taken, with shrimps being a large part of their diet in winter months.
Season irregular, depending on local water conditions, possibly all year round. The nest is a flat platform of sticks, lined with green leaves and is usually placed in a tree. Both adults share in egg incubation and care of the young.