Pygmy Cormorant vs Cape Cormorant
Microcarbo pygmaeus compared with Phalacrocorax capensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pygmy Cormorant | Cape Cormorant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Microcarbo pygmaeus | Phalacrocorax capensis |
| Order | Suliformes | Suliformes |
| Family | Phalacrocoracidae | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 40.2 cm (15.8 in) | 50.6 cm (19.9 in) |
| Weight | 693.3333333333334 g (24.46 oz) | 1223.75 g (43.17 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-8 | 2-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Pygmy Cormorant
Endangered
Cape Cormorant
About These Birds
Pygmy Cormorant
45–55 cm. Small; dark brown with chestnut head and neck in breeding; pale yellow throat. Resident across eastern Europe, Middle East, and Central Asia in freshwater lakes and rivers. Vulnerable; declining due to wetland degradation. Feeds on small fish by diving.
Cape Cormorant
63 cm. All-black with glossy blue-green; bare orange facial skin. Breeds colonially on South African and Namibian islands. Endangered; severe decline due to competition with purse-seine anchovy fisheries and El Niño events. Feeds on anchovy and sardine in Benguela Current.