Crowned Cormorant
Microcarbo coronatus
Silhouette: L. Shyamal · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderSuliformes (Gannets, Cormorants, and Allies)
- FamilyPhalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
- GenusMicrocarbo (Lesser Cormorants)
- SpeciesMicrocarbo coronatus (Crowned Cormorant)
About the Crowned Cormorant
The crowned cormorant (Microcarbo coronatus) or kuifkopduiker, 'Fringe-head diver', is a small cormorant that is endemic to the waters of the cold Benguela Current of southern Africa. It is an exclusively coastal species and is not found more than 10 km (6 mi) away from land. This species is related to the reed cormorant, and was formerly considered to the same species.
It is found from Cape Agulhas north to Swakopmund along the coast of southern Africa. The population appears to be between 2500 and 2900 breeding pairs. It breeds in small groups, with fewer than 150 individuals per colony being typical. Ringing recoveries show that juveniles may disperse up to 277 km from their nests, and adults move between breeding sites over 500 km apart.
The crowned cormorant is 50–55 cm in length. Adults are black with a small crest on the head and a red face patch. Young birds are dark brown above, paler brown below, and lack the crest. They can be distinguished from immature reed cormorants by their darker underparts and shorter tail.
Crowned cormorants feed on slow-moving fish and invertebrates, which they forage for in shallow coastal waters... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Crowned Cormorant in Namib-Naukluft National Park
LIVEiNaturalist
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Namib-Naukluft National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 2 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Garden Route National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Crowned Cormorant in Namib-Naukluft National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Crowned Cormorant sighting in Namib-Naukluft National Park, based on 509 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Crowned Cormorant in Namib-Naukluft National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Crowned Cormorant in Namib-Naukluft National Park in our monthly data.