Tuesday 12 March 2019

Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger)

OTHER NAMES: Javanese Cormorant
Latin Etymology: Microcarbo ("small charcoal") niger ("black")
Two adult non-breeding plumage Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 360-525g  /  Length: 55cm  /  Wingspan: 90cm
NO UK STATUS IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small and somewhat stubby looking cormorant of Southern Asia, the Little Cormorant is one of the "microcarbo" genus of the family, having only been divided up in 2010.  These birds, of which the Little is fairly typical, are much smaller than the rest of the family, shorter billed and more daintily proportioned.  The Little shares it's range and often actual habitat with both the Great and Indian Cormorants, so apparently has enough of a niche that it isn't out competed by those larger species.

Related Species:
Order: Suliformes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Genus: Microcarbo
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -
CAMBODIA Khmer name - ក្អែកទឹកតូច ("Little cormorant")
A locally common resident.
 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common at Prek Toal

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

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