---

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

NEOTROPIC CORMORANT – (Species Account Blog #77)

TAXONOMIC TREE:  

• ORDER: Suliformes,
• FAMILY: Phalacrocoracidae,
• BINOMIAL NAME: Nannopterum brasilianum

The Neotropic Cormorant has a black body. Immatures have dark brown breast. Orange facial skin comes to a point and is bordered by thin white line. Smaller, longer-tailed and shorter-legged than Double-crested Cormorant. Dives underwater to capture fish. Often perches with spread wings to dry them out. Most widespread species of cormorant from Mexico south. (from Birds of the World)

SIMILAR SPECIES

Often occurs with Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum), especially in winter, and is sometimes confused with that species. Body size, and shape and color of gular pouch are most reliable distinguishing marks in the field

DISTRIBUTION

---

PERSONAL OBSERVATION ANECDOTES

In Costa Rica we observed Neotropic Cormorants near the Chilamate Rainforest EcoRetret and while on the boat tour at the mouth of the Tárcoles River.

---

PHOTO GALLERY

**Some of these Photo Gallery images (all taken by me) have been taken in other nearby countries.

---

RECENT BLOG POSTS

View the five most recent Birds & Birding in Costa Rica series blog posts below.

• A Streak-headed Woodcreeper Feeds its Offspring Near the Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica
• PALE-BILLED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
• SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
• HOFFMANN’S WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
• BLACK-CHEEKED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding