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Phalacrocorax pygmaeus
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Phalacrocorax 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. 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.
It is a medium-sized green-glossed black bird, 45–55 cm long and with a 75–90 cm wingspan. It has a long tail and short thick bill. Adults have small white feather tufts on the head neck and underparts in the breeding season. Non-breeding birds have a white throat. The sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller and browner.
This species is distinguished from the Great Cormorant and the Common Shag by its much smaller size, lighter build, and long tail.
It feeds mainly on fish, often hunting in groups, and perches in trees between fishing expeditions.
This is an endangered species due to the drainage and serious degradation of wetlands and their associated woodland, water pollution, disturbance, and the illegal hunting and drowning of many 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.
The Pygmy Cormorant is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Genus: Phalacrocorax
Species: P. pygmaeus
Binomial name
Phalacrocorax pygmaeus
(Pallas, 1773)
From Wikipedia |
Noisette, boreocypriensis has marked this note useful
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Ciao Durzan, lgreat capture of lovely pigmy cormorant, fantastic colors and splendid reflections of light, very well done my friend, ciao Silvio
Ciao Durzan. Wonderful tones around the bird in very good details and light.
Roberto
- foozi
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2791 W: 0 N: 6696]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(25839) - [2010-04-09 5:30]
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Hi Durzan,
nice capture of this bird swimming. I like the ripples produced,it give an additional beauty to your composition.
Excvellent sharpness of the bird, the contrast is pretty.
regards,
Foozi
Es de las aves que menos simpatía :-) me producen y aquí nos están invadiendo cada vez más; en cualquier lugar que ven agua aquí están ellas y antes casi no nos visitaban, aunque aquí es la especie más grande. Un interesante trabajo.
Saludos y buen fin de semana: Josep Ignasi.
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- siggi
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(52850) - [2010-04-09 13:29]
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Hello Durzan.
This is a very nice capture of this Pygmy Cormorant. Excellent colours and lighting. Composition and POV/DoF are great also. This is a very good composition. Very well done. Best regards Siggi
Hello Durzan
lovely capture of this pygmy comorant swimming in green water with interesting reflections, nice posture of the bird taken with fine details
TFS and have a great sunday
Dostum çok hoş olmuş. Eline ve emeğine sağlık.
Bi slaven germ..
Bayram
