Home › Aves › Phalacrocoracidae › Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger)
SPECIES PROFILE
Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger)
Microcarbo
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Inland lakes rivers estuaries
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Suliformes
FAMILY
Phalacrocoracidae
GENUS
Microcarbo
📋 Description
SIZE
50-55 cm long 340-600 g
COLORATION
Black with flat head short bill
ADAPTATIONS
Webbed feet and slender neck for diving
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Inland lakes rivers estuaries
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
REPRODUCTION
Lays 3-5 eggs in stick nests incubated 27-30 days
DIET DETAILS
Fish crustaceans aquatic insects
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Water pollution habitat loss
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Underwater Hunters: Little Cormorants dive with 500-gram bodies catching 100 grams of fish daily in Ranganathittu's waters. Their flat heads distinguish them.
2
Colonial Nesters: These cormorants form colonies in Bharatpur's trees covering 5000 sq km. Pollution threatens their aquatic habitats.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary in Karnataka rivers host little cormorant sightings
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan wetlands offer little cormorant sightings
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary in Gujarat lakes have little cormorant sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Look for little cormorants drying wings on rocks post-dive
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
October-March Dry season concentrates fish for spotting cormorants
