The smallest of the three black-and-white cormorants found in Australia, easily recognised by its short yellow bill and compact size.
Not listed
Indigenous: Little Cormorant, Little Black-And-White Cormorant, Frilled Shag, Little Black-And-White Shag, Shag
At a glance
FamilyCormorants and Shags
SizeLarge
RarityCommon
HabitatCoasts, estuaries, harbours, rivers, lakes, dams, and other sheltered fresh or salt water.
Best timeReported across most months in Victoria, with no narrow seasonal peak.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by nick talbot
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
788857approx records
7states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Compact cormorant common around coastal and inland waterways across Australia, often seen singly or in small groups rather than dense flocks.
Behavior
Dives from the surface for fish and aquatic prey, then often perches low over water with wings spread to dry. Usually less gregarious than Little Black Cormorant.
Gallery
Regional timing
Queensland
Western Australia
Northern Territory
New South Wales
Tasmania
Victoria
South Australia
Australian Capital Territory