African Penguin vs Great Cormorant

Spheniscus demersus comparado com Phalacrocorax carbo

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Atributo African Penguin Great Cormorant
Nome científico Spheniscus demersus Phalacrocorax carbo
Ordem Sphenisciformes Suliformes
Família Spheniscidae Phalacrocoracidae
Estado de conservação Endangered Least Concern
Comprimento 60,0 cm (23.6 in) 90,0 cm (35.4 in)
Envergadura 42,0 cm (16.5 in) 145,0 cm (57.1 in)
Peso 3100,0 g (109.35 oz) 2600,0 g (91.71 oz)
Dieta Small schooling fish, especially sardines and anchovies. Forages within 40 km of the colony, diving … Fish caught by diving from the surface. Pursues prey underwater using powerful feet for propulsion. …
Tamanho da postura 2 1-7
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
African Penguin 60,0 cm
Great Cormorant 90,0 cm
Envergadura
African Penguin 42,0 cm
Great Cormorant 145,0 cm
Peso
African Penguin 3100,0 g
Great Cormorant 2600,0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partilhados

African Penguin only

Nenhum

Great Cormorant only

African Penguin

Rocky coastlines and offshore islands of southern Africa. Nests in burrows, under boulders, or in surface scrapes.

Great Cormorant

Coasts, estuaries, lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. Nests in colonies in trees, on cliffs, or on the ground.

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Song & Call Comparison

African Penguin

Canto

A loud, donkey-like braying 'waaah-waaah' — hence its nickname 'jackass penguin'. Also gives softer grunts and contact calls at the colony. Highly vocal on breeding beaches.

Great Cormorant

Canto

Deep, guttural grunts and 'karrr' calls at colonies. Bill-clicking and hissing in threat displays. Silent at sea. Colonial noise can be deafening during the breeding season.

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Geographic Range & Migration

African Penguin

Coastal southwestern Africa from Namibia to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The only penguin species breeding in Africa.

Great Cormorant

Very wide range across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia. One of the most widespread cormorant species.

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Estado de conservação

Endangered

African Penguin

Least Concern

Great Cormorant

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How to Tell Them Apart

African Penguin

Plumagem

Black upperparts and white underparts with a distinctive black horseshoe-shaped band across the breast. Pink patches of bare skin above the eyes help with thermoregulation.

Bico

Sturdy, pointed, black bill with a grey band near the tip

Great Cormorant

Plumagem

All black with a bronze-green gloss. White throat patch and white thigh patches in breeding season. Yellow-orange face patch around the bill base.

Bico

Long, hooked, dark bill with a yellow gape

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About These Birds

African Penguin

O único pinguim nidificante na África, pertencente à família Spheniscidae. O Pinguim-africano (Spheniscus demersus) habita costas rochosas e ilhas do sul da África, da Namíbia ao leste da África do Sul. Mede aproximadamente 60-70 cm e pesa entre 2-5 kg. Caracterizado pelo padrão preto e branco distintivo com uma faixa preta em forma de U no peito e manchas pretas nas partes brancas. Excelente nadador, alimenta-se principalmente de peixes como sardinhas e anchovas. Vocaliza com um chamado semelhante ao zurro …

Great Cormorant

The great cormorant is one of the most widespread seabirds in the world. Unlike most waterbirds, cormorants lack fully waterproof plumage, leading to the iconic pose of standing with wings spread open to dry. In Asia, cormorants have been used by fishermen to catch fish for over a thousand years.

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