Little Cormorant
Microcarbo niger
Call and song
Recording 1
Recording 2
Recording 3
About the Little Cormorant
An all black ducklike waterbird with a distinctive flattish head and a bill that is sharply hooked at the tip. Smallest of the cormorants found in the region. Breeding adults have white plumes on the sides of the head. Like all cormorants, frequently seen swimming with its body low in the water, head and neck pointing upward, and suddenly disappearing underwater to catch fish. Often perches upright on a rock, drying itself with outstretched wings. Seen singly or in small groups in inland water bodies. Similar to Indian Cormorant, but note smaller size, stouter bill, and shape of the head, flat on Little Cormorant and rounded on Indian Cormorant.
Species account: eBird.org, fetched 2025-12-26 · How these pages are made
Where it has been recorded
Recorded in 16 of the 253 countries we have eBird lists for. Each opens that country's checklist.
More cormorants and shags
Brandt's CormorantUrile penicillatus
Reed CormorantMicrocarbo africanus
Little Pied CormorantMicrocarbo melanoleucos
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
Indian CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscicollis
Little Black CormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostris
Pied CormorantPhalacrocorax varius
European ShagGulosus aristotelis