Brown-cheeked shag
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Brown-cheeked shag ( Phalacrocorax fuscicollis ) |
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| Stephens , 1826 |
The brown-cheeked shag ( Phalacrocorax fuscicollis ) is a species of bird from the family of cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae) and belongs to the genus Phalacrocorax .
distribution and habitat
Brown-cheeked shags are common in Pakistan , India , Sri Lanka, and the Indochinese peninsula, where they inhabit coasts as well as all types of inland waters. The species is very adaptable, only mountain lakes and rivers of the Himalayas are not colonized.
Appearance
With a maximum body length of about 63 cm and a maximum weight of 790 g, the brown-cheeked shag is one of the smallest representatives of the cormorants . The throat skin of this species is dark yellow in color, but can also appear dirty olive green. The back and wings are feathered in a bronze brown color, the belly is darker, often appearing almost black. Outside the breeding season, the species shows browner plumage. The throat is colored white in most individuals. The iris is bright green. A sexual dimorphism does not exist, young birds are brightly brown feathered except for the dirty white belly.
Breeding behavior
There is no uniform breeding season, depending on the area, the monsoons and the availability of food, the breeding business starts at different times. Most broods take place in the second half of the year between August and December. The species breeds in colonies , usually with herons , spoonbills , other cormorants and various other birds. The nest, which mainly consists of small branches and dry grass, is preferably built on branches directly above the water. A clutch consists of 3 to 6 eggs, from which completely naked young birds hatch, which develop a dark brown downy plumage.
food
Fish is the main food of the brown-cheeked shag. Like all cormorants, the species dives well and catches its food by tracking and catching fish underwater. The hunt is often carried out in groups, with several individuals swimming in a row on the water, driving the prey fish in front of them.
swell
- Josep del Hoyo , Andrew Elliot, Jordi Sargatal : Handbook of the birds of the world. Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 1992, ISBN 84-87334-10-5 .
Web links
- Phalacrocorax fuscicollis inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2014.