Photo: Lip Kee Yap / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Indian Cormorant
Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) is a member of the Phalacrocoracidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 706 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Suliformes
- Family Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants, Shags
- Genus Phalacrocorax
- Species fuscicollis
Where it lives
Patchily inland, Indus Valley (central Pakistan), western, southern, northeastern India, Sri Lanka, southern Myanmar, southern Cambodia and southern Vietnam
Quick facts
- Weight
- 706 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Phalacrocoracidae
- Order
- Suliformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Indian Cormorant hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Indian Cormorant is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) is a member of the Phalacrocoracidae family, within the order Suliformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR patchily inland, Indus Valley (c Pakistan), w, s, ne India, Sri Lanka, s Myanmar, s Cambodia and s Vietnam.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 706 g, with a wing length of about 26.3 cm and a tail of around 13.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.2 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Indian Cormorant?
The Indian Cormorant is a large bird that weighs around 706 g.
Where does the Indian Cormorant live?
The Indian Cormorant is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR patchily inland, Indus Valley (c Pakistan), w, s, ne India, Sri Lanka, s Myanmar, s Cambodia and s Vietnam, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Indian Cormorant belong to?
The Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) belongs to the Phalacrocoracidae family, in the order Suliformes.
What does the Indian Cormorant eat?
The Indian Cormorant hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Indian Cormorant migrate?
The Indian Cormorant is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Indian Cormorant endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Indian Cormorant's range?
The Indian Cormorant has a mapped global range of about 1.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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