Pygmy Cormorant

The Pygmy Cormorant breeds colonially in wetlands with still or slowly flowing fresh water in coastal deltas and well-vegetated freshwater lakes. It builds a nest of grass and twigs in a low tree or reedbed, into which it lays its 3-6 eggs. Both parents incubate for 27–30 days, and nestlings become independent after 70 days.

The Pygmy Cormorant is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Pygmy Cormorant in Bulgaria. Status of the population. Action plan. 2000. Compiled by Nikolov H.H., Marin S.M. & Darakchiev A.I. Published by Green Balkans Federation of Nature-Conservation NGOs. 160 Shesti Septemviri Blvd. Plovdiv 4000, Bulgaria. - European Shag newanim.gif (416 byte) Management & action plans Species Action Plan for the Mediterranean Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii in Europe. 1999. Compiled by: Aguilar J. S. & Fernadez G. More

from the Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus), at as little as 45 cm (18 in) and 340 g (12 oz), to the Flightless Cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi), at a maximum size 100 cm (40 in) and 5 kg (11 lb). The recently-extinct Spectacled Cormorant (Phalacrocorax perspicillatus) was rather larger, at an average size of 6.3 kg (14 lb). The majority, including nearly all Northern Hemisphere species, have mainly dark plumage, but some Southern Hemisphere species are black and white, and a few (e.g. More

The Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus) is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It breeds in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia. It is partially migratory, with northern populations wintering further south, mostly within in its breeding range. It is a rare vagrant to western Europe. The Pygmy Cormorant breeds colonially in wetlands with still or slowly flowing fresh water in coastal deltas and well-vegetated freshwater lakes. More

as well as illegal hunting and drowning of many Pygmy Cormorants in nets. It is obvious that Greece should take protection measures and special actions,if we consider its importance for the species. More

The Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus) is included in the Red List of the World Conservation Union (IUCN Red List). During the winter period some 20% of the European population of this species winters in Bulgaria. Birds form roosting concentrations at the same places every night – these are the so called roosting sites – trees in river beds. The security of these sites and the lack of disturbance are of key significance for the survival of the Pygmy Cormorants. More

The Pygmy Cormorant is the smallest of all 40 odd Cormorant species. It is about 50 cm long - in comparison the Great Cormorant is about 80 cm. Its main breeding area is the Danube Delta and it is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN list due to loss of habitat. There are currently an estimated 4000 breeding pairs in the Delta of a total of about 7000 in Europe. More

Pygmy Cormorants (Phalacrocorax pygmeus) recently returned to breed in Italy and a small colony was established in the natural reserve of Punte Alberete, in the southern Po River Delta (Volponi and Emiliani 1995). There, on 9 June 1995, during the census of the breeding herons and egrets, we found seven Pygmy Cormorant nests in three different locations in the heronry. While a group of five nests still contained eggs, the other two held four nestlings each, estimated to be between 10 and 15 days old. More

Pygmy Cormorants Phalacrocorax pygmeus wintering in Belgrade. Acrocephalus, 25 (123): 207-212. 2003 Borgo F., Boschetti E., Panzarin L., Verza E. & Volponi S. 2003. Il Marangone minore Phalacrocorax pygmeus nelle aree costiere dell'Adriatico settentrionale. Avocetta, 124: 133-134. Nemtzov S.C., 2003. Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus nesting in Israel. Cormorant Research Group Bulletin, 5: 38-39. Shmuel M., Arad Z., Katzir G. & Izhaki I. 2003. More

The pygmy cormorant breeds patchily in southern and south-eastern Europe (75% of its global breeding range), its European breeding population being estimated as less than 39,000 pairs. The breeding population in Romania account for 11,500 -14,000 pairs, and in Bulgaria for 350-400 pairs. The species receives some protection within the Danube Delta’s biosphere reserve, but is not protected throughout the rest of its range along the lower Danube. More

Pygmy Cormorant determination Similar species Phalacrocoracidae Cormorant | Double-crested Cormorant | Pygmy Cormorant | Shag | source: youtube Links to European databases Pygmy Cormorant EU report (PDF) Birdlife factsheet of Pygmy Cormorant Pygmy Cormorant EU population trend (PDF) Pygmy Cormorant EU species database Conservation status Listen to the sound of the More

For the purposes of our bird news services, Pygmy Cormorant is classed as Mega: species which have not yet occurred in the British Isles or are exceedingly rare, or are otherwise highly desirable. More

Pygmy Cormorant Conservation During the winter of 2004-2005 a project for evaluation the threats to the wintering population of the globally-threatened Pygmy Cormorant along Maritsa River (Southern Bulgaria) was carried out by volunteers of Balkani Wildlife Society (http://www.balkani.org) and the Bulgarian Ornithological Centre (Institute of zoology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences). Pygmy Cormorants are very conservative to their wintering grounds and night roosts. More

The Pygmy Cormorant is an aquatic bird related to the Cormorant, though much smaller. It has a body length of 45-50 cm and wingspan of 80-90 cm. Its plumage is dark brown, almost black, and its head is brownish. It has a short beak and long tail. The male and female are rather similar in appearance. Where it nests It nests mostly in colonies, usually among egrets, cormorants, glossy ibises and other species of birds. More

Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus) is one of the 36 species belonging to Phalacoracidae family. It is the smallest species of the family, 45-55 cm long with a wingspan of 80-90 cm. Its body is black and its head is brown. It has a long tail and a small head and bill. It lives in wetlands with still or slowly flowing fresh water and more rarely, at winter, in coastal wetlands. More

Pygmy Cormorants in nets. The breeding range, once much more extensive, continues to contract, and the breeding population of the species in Europe is estimated at only 6,400 to 7,300 pairs. The biggest colony is in the Danube Delta, numbering 4,000 pairs, but this seems certain to plunge due to a massive canalisation scheme, which despite the protected status of the delta, commenced in May 2004. More