White-breasted cormorant
| White-breasted cormorant | ||||||||||||
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White-breasted cormorant ( Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus ) |
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| Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus | ||||||||||||
| ( Lichtenstein , 1823) |
The white-breasted cormorant ( Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus ) is an African subspecies of the cormorant belonging to the family of the cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae). It is also often viewed as an independent species ( Phalacrocorax lucidus ).
description
The white-breasted cormorant, which is typical of the species, has a glossy black metallic finish and is somewhat smaller and greener than the Atlantic subspecies of the cormorant ( P. c. Carbo ). It differs from the Central European subspecies ( P. c. Sinensis ) mainly in its characteristic white color, which is not only limited to the throat, but also extends to the chest or abdomen. However, there is also a dark morph that is strongly related to P. c. sinensis remembers. Male and female animals look the same, with young animals the entire front is white. Breeding animals have a white spot on their thighs. As with all cormorants, the beak is hook-shaped. At the base of the beak there is a yellowish bare skin area.
distribution and habitat
The white-breasted cormorant can be found throughout southern Africa with the exception of the Kalahari region. Other populations are found on Lake Chad, in Nigeria, the Cape Verde Islands, on the Red Sea and the coast of Guinea-Bissau . Its habitat are both the coasts and inland waters.
swell
- JC Sinclair, Ian Sinclair, PAR Hockey, and WR Tarboton: Birds of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers July 1997, ISBN 978-1-868-72033-0
- Josep del Hoyo , Andrew Elliot, Jordi Sargatal : Handbook of the birds of the World. Vol. 1.l, Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 1994, ISBN 84-87334-15-6 .
