Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Unlike most waterbirds, their feathers are not fully waterproof; this reduced buoyancy allows them to dive deeper and more efficiently.

Scientific name

Nannopterum brasilianum

Taxonomy

Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Suliformes › Phalacrocoracidae › Nannopterum

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Population trend

increasing

Biome

wetland

Habitat

Lakes, slow-moving rivers, marshes, and coastal estuaries.

Diet

Primarily small fish, but also consumes crustaceans and aquatic insects.

Range

Texas, Louisiana, Central America, South America, Caribbean

Size

64-73 cm in length with a 100 cm wingspan

Lifespan

12-15 years

Active

diurnal

Threats

Pollution, entanglement in discarded fishing gear, and habitat degradation.

Safe to approach?

Harmless and generally shy. Observe from a distance of at least 15 meters, especially when they are drying their wings, as they are vulnerable during this time. If handled and bitten, clean the small puncture with soap and water to prevent infection.

The neotropic cormorant or olivaceous cormorant ( Nannopterum brasilianum ) is a medium-sized cormorant found throughout the American tropics and subtropics, from the middle Rio Grande and the Gulf and Californian coasts of the United States south through Mexico and Central America to southern South America, where it is called by the Indian name of biguá . It also breeds on the Bahamas, Cuba and Trinidad. It can be found both at coasts (including some mangrove areas) and on...

Photo: Vladimir Rebellón Palmezano, CC-BY, via iNaturalist

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