A small, slender waterbird found across sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Madagascar. As one of the most widespread members of the Microcarbo genus, the reed cormorant is a familiar sight on lakes, rivers, wetlands, and even seasonal ponds, where it can often be seen swimming low in the water or perched with its wings outstretched to dry.
The reed cormorant is smaller and lighter than the more robust great cormorants. It has a slim body, a relatively long tail, and a narrow, hooked bill that’s perfect for catching slippery prey. Its plumage is mostly dark and glossy, with a greenish or purplish sheen in good light. During the breeding season, adults develop small white feather tufts on the sides of the head, giving them a slightly crested look, and their facial skin becomes more vivid in color.
The reed cormorant is a highly effective hunter, feeding mostly on small fish, though it will also take amphibians, crustaceans, and aquatic insects. It hunts by diving underwater, propelling itself with its strong legs and using its keen eyesight to locate prey. After fishing, it emerges from the water and often finds a sunny perch to dry its wings, since, like all cormorants, it lacks the waterproofing oils found in ducks.
This species prefers freshwater habitats, often among reeds and aquatic vegetation, but it can also be found in estuaries and brackish waters. It is generally solitary or seen in small groups, unlike some other waterbirds that form large flocks. Even at colonies, it tends to keep to itself more than its larger relatives.
Distribution
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Central Af. Rep.
Chad
Congo-Brazzaville
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Djibouti
Egypt
Official estimate
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
São Tomé & Príncipe
Tanzania
Togo
Uganda
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
