FAMILY NAME: Phalacrocoracidae SCIENTIFIC NAME: Phalacrocorax varius SUBSPECIES: none
SIZE: The largest Australian white breasted cormorant. 70 to 80cm. (28" to 32") tip to tail. A wingspan of about 1.5m. (5')
LOCATION: Found across Australia, except in the arid west. They will use both salt and freshwater habitats.
BREEDING: Breeding season is not defined, and may breed at anytime during the year, laying from 2 to 5 eggs. Their nests are shallow platforms, made up of sticks and seaweed, and located low down in bushes and trees over water, or on the ground. Their roosting preference is in trees.
GENERAL: Sometimes called the "Yellow-faced Cormorant", so named because of the yellow feathers at the lores. They have blue iris and a pale blue eye ring. The upper side of the bird is black, and the underside is white, except for a black bar down the thighs.
References:
Michael Morecombe.
Field Guide to Australian Birds, Complete Compact Edtion.Ken Simpson - Nicholas Day.
The Birds of Australia.M. Blakers - S. J. J. F. Davies - P. N. Reilly.
The Atlas of Australian Birds.Birds in Backyards.
www.birdsinbackyards.netGraham Pizzey - Frank Knight.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia.
