Australian Cormorants
Cormorants, also known as shags, are waterbirds commonly found across Australia, known for their diving skills and their distinctive habit of spreading their wings to dry. Australia is home to several species of cormorants, each with its own unique characteristics.
Cormorants – Versatile Waterbirds Found Across Australia
From the sun-dappled mangroves of the north to the crystalline southern seas, Australia’s cormorants epitomize natural adaptation. These sleek aquatic hunters have mastered both air and water, establishing themselves as premier fishing specialists across the continent’s waterways.
Distinguished by their iridescent black plumage, often accented with striking white patches, cormorants command attention whether perched sentinel-like on coastal rocks or executing their underwater ballets. Their perfectly evolved hooked beaks snap up prey with surgical precision. In a remarkable display of versatility, these birds transition seamlessly between soaring flight and submarine pursuit, diving to impressive depths in their relentless quest for fish.
You’ll find them across Australia’s waterways, from the brackish estuaries to the tranquil billabongs of the interior, working in coordinated fishing parties or hunting solo, cormorants demonstrate an intelligence and adaptability that has earned them their place as one of Australia’s most successful avian families.
Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius)
With a long, orange facial patch and a distinctive blue eye-ring, the pied cormorant can be seen near large bodies of inland water or coastal regions. It has a black-and-white coloration, with the black covering the head, back, and wings, while the underparts are white. This bird often forages in estuaries and coastal waters, flying in a characteristic V-formation with others of its kind. Its grunting calls are a familiar sound in their habitat.
Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)
As its name suggests, the little pied cormorant is a smaller version of the pied cormorant, with a short, yellow bill and no throat skin. It features a black back and wings, contrasting with its white face and belly. They are found in most aquatic habitats and often fish alone rather than in the groups common to other species. Unlike other cormorants, they do not typically fly in V-formation.
Great (Black) Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
The largest Australian cormorant, the great cormorant, is mostly black with a white patch on its face. Breeding adults also develop white plumes on their neck. These birds are commonly seen in freshwater lakes and rivers, as well as coastal waters. They are often found flying in V-formations and are known for their deep, croaking calls.
Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)
Another small species, the little black cormorant, is distinguished by its slender body and entirely black plumage, with a greenish sheen when breeding. They tend to forage in large flocks, particularly in inland waters, where they feed on small fish and aquatic invertebrates. Their distinctive behaviour includes flying in tight formations and making soft, ticking vocalisations.
Fun Facts about Cormorants
Underwater Acrobats
- They can dive to depths of up to 45 meters – deeper than most recreational scuba divers!
- Cormorants can achieve speeds of 4.3 meters per second underwater, making them one of nature’s most agile aquatic hunters
- Their bones are denser than most birds, helping them stay submerged while hunting
- A cormorant’s heart rate can slow from 220 beats per minute to just 20 during deep dives, conserving oxygen.
Unique Physical Adaptations
- Unlike ducks and swans, cormorants don’t have waterproof feathers – this helps them hunt more effectively by reducing buoyancy
- Their eyes can change shape underwater, allowing them to focus clearly both in air and water – like having built-in swim goggles
- Special muscles in their feet can spread their toes wide underwater, turning them into powerful flippers
- Their hooked beaks have a sharp nail-like tip that can grip slippery fish.
Cultural Significance Through History
- Chinese fishermen have used trained cormorants for over 1,000 years, placing rings around their necks to prevent them from swallowing larger fish
- Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs featured cormorants as symbols of knowledge and prosperity
- Indigenous Australian cultures viewed cormorants as clever spirits, often including them in Dreamtime stories about the creation of fishing practices
- Japanese folklore tells of the “Umigarasu” (sea crow), a cormorant spirit that could guide lost fishermen home
Surprising Social Behaviors
- Many cormorants engage in synchronized swimming during courtship
- They perform elaborate greeting displays at their nests, including throat-clicking and neck-weaving dances
- Some species work together in groups to herd fish into shallow waters, displaying remarkable cooperative hunting strategies
- During breeding season, their eyes can change from brown to emerald green, and some species develop stunning bright blue eye-rings
Record-Breaking Achievements
- The Great Cormorant holds the record for the deepest recorded dive of any flying bird that doesn’t use its wings underwater – reaching an astounding 45 meters
- Some species can stay submerged for up to 70 seconds – longer than many Olympic swimmers can hold their breath
- A single cormorant can consume up to 1.5 kg of fish per day – equivalent to about 25% of their body weight
- The largest cormorant colonies can contain over 10,000 pairs of birds
Clever Adaptations
- Their famous wing-drying pose doubles as a method of digesting large meals – the sun-warming position helps increase their body temperature to aid digestion
- Some cormorants have learned to exploit human-made structures, using pier lights at night to spot fish
- They can adjust their buoyancy by controlling the amount of air trapped in their feathers
- Unlike most birds, cormorants can swim using only their feet, keeping their wings tucked tight against their bodies
Conservation Connections
- Cormorants serve as important bioindicators – their population health can signal changes in marine ecosystem conditions
- Some species have developed urban adaptations, successfully nesting on artificial structures like bridges and navigation markers
- Their poo plays helps marine nutrient cycling and has historically been harvested as a valuable fertilizer
- Climate change tracking studies use cormorants as model species due to their sensitivity to marine ecosystem changes
Scientific Discoveries
- Recent research has revealed that cormorants can track fish using the pressure waves created by their prey’s movement
- Their eyes contain specialized proteins that allow them to quickly adjust from air to underwater vision in less than a second
- Some populations have developed tool use, with birds observed using sticks to help construct more elaborate nests
These extra-extraordinary birds continue to surprise scientists with their adaptability and complex behaviors, making them one of nature’s most fascinating success stories in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Whether soaring over rivers or perched on rocky coasts, cormorants play their part in Australia’s aquatic ecosystems.
Each species has its own adaptations suited to their specific habitats, making them intriguing birds to observe in the wild.
Australia’s Darter & Shag
Darters, shags, and cormorants are waterbirds with distinct differences.
Darters, known as snakebirds, have long, thin necks and sharp, straight bills for spearing fish, and are typically found in freshwater habitats.
Shags are smaller, marine-dwelling cormorants with slimmer necks and hooked bills, suited for catching fish.
Cormorants, bulkier and more versatile in habitat, have thicker necks and hooked bills, and can be found in both freshwater and marine environments.
While darters spear their prey, cormorants and shags grab fish with their hooked bills. All three species are often seen drying their wings after diving.
Darter (Anhinga melanogaster)
Also called the snakebird due to its long, slender neck, the darter has a distinctive black-and-white plumage. Males are mostly black with a white stripe bordered by black, while females have a more brownish-grey coloration. Their wings are glossy and greenish in the right light. This species is primarily found around lakes, rivers, and swamps, where they can be seen drying their wings after a dive.
Black-faced Shag (Leucocarbo fuscescens)
This species inhabits rocky sea coasts, with its non-breeding plumage being mostly black with a distinctive black facial skin. The breeding adults, however, gain white markings on their head, neck, and thighs. With a brown and black plumage and a grey rump, this shag is frequently seen perched on rocky outcrops, spreading its wings. They are commonly found in coastal areas, spreading their wings in the sun after feeding at sea.
Australian Cormorants
Little Pied Cormorant
