CAPE TOWN’S MARINE CORMORANTS
The Cape Peninsula is home to four species of cormorants that frequent the coastal environment. One, the Cape Cormorant, is highly gregarious and is often seen in large numbers leap-frogging over one another in a frantic feeding frenzy after sardine and anchovy within the inshore fishing grounds.
Bank Cormorant and Cape Cormorant
The other three Bank, a near-endemic and species in apparent decline, White-breasted and the much smaller Crowned Cormorant concentrate on fishing close to the rocky shore on both sides of the Peninsula.
Crowned Cormorant on nest
White-breasted Cormorant
Most field guides offer less than perfect illustrations and the accompanying collage should assist in illustrating the diagnostic differences and sizes between the four species.
Leave a Reply