Neotropical Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum)

OTHER NAMES: Olivaceous Cormorant
Latin Etymology:  Nannopterum ("small wing") brasilianum ("of Brazil")

Neotropical Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Nannopterum brasilianum brasilianum
Weight: 1.1-1.5kg  /  Length: 64cm  /  Wingspan: 100cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

As the name so conveniently implies, the Neotropical Cormorant is the common cormorant of much of Central and South America, with a range that extends up into the Gulf of Mexico. Similarly to the Great Cormorant in Japan, it has been used by the Uru People of Peru for fishing. Unusually for a cormorant, it can sometimes be found perching on wires.

Related Species:
Order: Suliformes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Genus: Nannopterum
SUBSPECIES: N. b. mexicanum, N. b. brasilianum

 - Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Cormorán Neotropical 

A locally common species at the Coast and estuaries
 - COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Numerous at Tarcoles

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Nannopterum ("small wing") auritum ("eared")

Non-breeding Double-crested Cormorant (subspecies N. a. albociliatum)  at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Nannopterum auritum albociliatum
Weight: 1.2-2.5kg  /  Length: 70-90cm  /  Wingspan: 132cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Double-crested cormorant is the common cormorant species of North America, and in non breeding plumage is similar to the Great Cormorants found in much of the rest of the world. However, in breeding plumage it grows its namesake "double crest" which give it something the look of the stereotypical mad professor with big tufts of feathers on each side of the head.

Related Species:
Related Species:
Order: Suliformes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Genus: Nannopterum
SUBSPECIES: N. a. albocoliatum, N. a. auritum, N. a. cincinnatum, N. a. floridanum, N. a. heuretum

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 

Found in all the Lower 48 and Southern Alaska
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley, Monterey and San Francisco

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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