Little Pied Cormorant

The Little Pied Cormorant, also known as the Little Shag or Kawaupaka, is a diminutive waterbird with a distinctive black and white plumage. It sports a yellow bill and, on occasion, a small crest. The bird exhibits a pied morph predominantly black above with white below, and a melanistic form with a white throat is prevalent in New Zealand.

Identification Tips

Adult Little Pied Cormorants measure between 56 to 58 centimeters in length, with a bill approximately 3 centimeters long. They can be identified by their glossy black upper parts and white face, underparts, and thighs. The bill and skin around the face are yellow, and the legs and feet are black. Juveniles are duller in color, with immature birds of the pied morph having paler underparts.

Habitat

This species is commonly found in a variety of aquatic environments, including coasts, islands, estuaries, and inland waters.

Distribution

The Little Pied Cormorant is widespread across Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Timor-Leste, and Indonesia, as well as islands in the south-western Pacific and subantarctic regions.

Behaviour

These birds are solitary feeders, diving in shallow waters close to shore. They exhibit a wing-drying pose after diving, with wings outstretched to dry their feathers.

Song & Calls

During courtship, the Little Pied Cormorant emits a low cooing sound.

Breeding

Breeding occurs annually, with timing varying by region. Nests are constructed from branches and sticks in trees near water, often in the company of other waterbirds. The species lays pale blue oval eggs coated with a thin layer of lime.

Similar Species

The Little Pied Cormorant can be confused with the slightly larger Black-faced Cormorant and the much larger Australian Pied Cormorant.

Diet and Feeding

This cormorant is a benthic feeder, preying on a diet rich in fish and crustaceans. It is known to bring its catch to the surface to re-orient and swallow head first.

Conservation status

The Little Pied Cormorant is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable population without significant threats.