Larger and longer-billed than the Little Pied Cormorant, this species is usually seen singly or in pairs along sheltered coasts.
Not listed
Indigenous: Great Pied Cormorant, Black-And-White Shag, Yellow-Faced Cormorant, Diver, Shag
At a glance
FamilyCormorants and Shags
SizeSmall
RarityCommon
HabitatCoasts, bays, estuaries, harbours, islands, and large sheltered waterways.
Best timeReported across most months in New South Wales, with no narrow seasonal peak.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Nick Talbot
Range map
Range map
5066visible hotspots
229619visible records
5states
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
Coastal and estuarine cormorant with yellow facial skin, usually larger and longer-billed than Little Pied Cormorant.
Behavior
Dives for fish in sheltered marine and estuarine water, then often rests on posts, rocks, jetties, or sandbars with wings held open to dry.
Gallery
Regional timing
Western Australia
New South Wales
Queensland
Northern Territory
Victoria
South Australia
Tasmania
Australian Capital Territory