Guanay Cormorant

Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum

Guanay Cormorant (Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of South America.

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The Guanay Cormorant (Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum) is a member of the Phalacrocoracidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 2.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

NT Near Threatened

Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Suliformes
Family Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants, Shags
Genus Leucocarbo
Species bougainvilliorum

Where it lives

Coastal Peru to central Chile and south-central Argentina

South America

Quick facts

Weight: 2.5 kg
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Order: Suliformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Vulnerable

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Guanay Cormorant hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Guanay Cormorant is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Guanay Cormorant (Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum) is a species of bird in the Phalacrocoracidae family, part of the order Suliformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA coastal Peru to c Chile and sc Argentina.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.5 kg, with a wing length of about 29.3 cm and a tail of around 10.5 cm.

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 466,000 km².

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Guanay Cormorant?

The Guanay Cormorant is a very large bird that weighs around 2.5 kg.

Where does the Guanay Cormorant live?

The Guanay Cormorant is found across South America with a range covering SA coastal Peru to c Chile and sc Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Guanay Cormorant belong to?

The Guanay Cormorant (Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum) belongs to the Phalacrocoracidae family, in the order Suliformes.

What does the Guanay Cormorant eat?

The Guanay Cormorant hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Guanay Cormorant migrate?

The Guanay Cormorant is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Guanay Cormorant endangered?

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

How large is the Guanay Cormorant's range?

The Guanay Cormorant has a mapped global range of about 466,000 km².