Little Cormorant
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[Photo] Little Cormorant - Phalacrocorax niger. Photo by Jayanth Sharma http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayanthsharma

The Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger) is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It breeds in tropical south Asia from Southern Pakistan through India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia. It is resident but undertakes some limited seasonal movements.

This is a common and widespread bird species. It breeds in freshwater wetlands and on coasts. 3-5 eggs are laid in a nest in a tree or long grass.

This is a small cormorant, 55 cm in length. Its rectangular head profile and short bill are distinctions from the somewhat larger Indian Cormorant. Little Cormorant is mainly glossy black in the breeding season, with white head plumes and a whitish throat. The wing coverts are silvery, and it has a longish tail.

Sexes are similar, but non-breeding adults and juveniles are browner and lack the head plumes.

The Little Cormorant can dive to considerable depths, but usually feeds in shallow water. It frequently brings prey to the surface. A wide variety of fish are taken.

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