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Little Pied Cormorant


Little Pied Cormorant
Photo Information
Copyright: Colin McQueen (McQueenca) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 131 W: 11 N: 226] (1387)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2013-01-29
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 7D, Canon EF 300 1:2.8 L IS II USM
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/1000 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2013-01-30 2:49
Viewed: 2197
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Note
The photo was taken about 8 on a sunny morning. He had just come out of the water and was drying off. The photo was cropped.

Little Pied Cormorant
Microcarbo melanoleucos
Phalacrocoracidae

Sometimes Little Pied Cormorants occur in sheltered bays and inlets, but they are more common at terrestrial wetlands, including artificial wetlands as well as a variety of natural ones. Although Little Pied Cormorants will catch fish, more often they take freshwater crayfish and other crustaceans which are captured during brief dives beneath the water. The prey is brought to the surface or back to the nearby bank, where the claws of the crayfish are shaken off before its body is eaten.


Identification
Description

The Little Pied Cormorant is one of the most common of Australia's waterbirds, occurring on water bodies of almost any size. It is entirely black above and white below. The face is dusky and, in adult birds, the white of the underside extends to above the eye. Immature birds resemble the adults except there is no white above the eye.

Similar Species

The Little Pied Cormorant resembles the Pied Cormorant,Phalacrocorax varius, but is easily distinguished by its smaller size and proportionately shorter bill The Pied Cormorant also has an orange-yellow face patch and black thighs.

Location
Distribution

The Little Pied Cormorant is found throughout Australia.

Habitat

The Little Pied Cormorant is at home in either fresh or salt water. It is often seen in large flocks on open waterways and on the coast, especially where large numbers of fish are present. On inland streams and dams, however, it is often solitary. The Little Pied Cormorant mixes readily with the similar sized Little Black Cormorant, P. sulcirostris.

Behaviour
Feeding

Little Pied Cormorants feed on a wide variety of aquatic animals, from insects to fish. On inland streams and dams they turn to their most favoured food: yabbies (freshwater crayfish). These are caught by deep underwater dives with both feet kicking outward in unison. Other crustaceans are also taken, with shrimps being a large part of their diet in winter months.

Breeding

Little Pied Cormorants breed either in colonies or, less commonly, in single pairs. The nest is a flat platform of sticks, lined with green leaves and is usually placed in a tree. Both adults share in egg incubation and care of the young.

Source: Birdlife.org.au
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2013-01-30 2:51]

Hi Colin,a beautiful wings position to make the difference! What a nice way to take this cormorant,spectacular pose and great details and exposure,very rich composition too.Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

Wonderful picture dear Colin
Perfect pose, compo and sharpness
Tfs
Tom

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2013-01-30 3:44]

Hello Colin,
Excellent photo of this cormorant in its typical pose with the wings spread to dry them. Beautiful colours, good sharpness and attractive eye contact.
Regards,
Peter

hello Colin
great shot with good details and beautiful colours
i like this composition
thanks greeting lou

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2013-01-30 5:01]

Hello Colin,
Love the bird's glance towards the photographer.. very beautiful display of feathers, good idea to have taken the picture when the Cormorant was drying its plumage. Excellent light-management too. A most attractive and vivid bird-picture.
Kind regards
Anne

Hello Colin,
Beautiful bird,...more beautiful the way you have framed this picture.It seems that the bird is taking warm in its winga and body.Nice POV and light.Rich colour on wings and blurry BG.Eye contact is a special gift.Well done.
Kind regards,
Srikumar

Sunning Little Pied Cormorant with good composition and very perfect posture.
best wishes and regards,
samiran

Hi Colin,

Really like your shot, and what nice bird, wish I could get some pictures of it.

Regards,

Romario

你好
照的太有個性 也太有創意
羽毛可以看的很清楚 有點像拖著黑色的婚紗
令人激賞
謝謝分享
晚安
STONE

Ciao Colin, great capture of lovely cormorant in fantastic pose, fine details, excellent sharpness, splendid light and wonderful natural colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio
.

Hello Colin,
Wow!
what a great capture my friend,an outstanding details of plumage with perfect exposure,beautiful stance and a nice composition with lovely natural surrounding.
TFS and my regards,
Joy

Hello Colin

Excellent photo of this Little Pied Cormorant
in its typical cormorant pose, fine POV giving
that expressive glance and eye-contact with you,
excellent light to help to obtain the superb
focus, sharpness, details, and contrast, TFS

Asbed

Hi Colin,
great capture! this bird becomes here really mighty. I think it wasn't easy to find a good POV with all these tree branches. You managed that greatly.
Impressive sharpness. I love this picture. Tfs

Interesting bird and another great photo Colin! Very good composition, nice pose, wonderful colors and good sharpness!
Regards,
Christodoulos

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2791 W: 0 N: 6696] (25839)
  • [2013-01-31 3:53]

Hello Colin
you capture it at the best moment. The angry face could be seen here. Excellent features, details and moment.
I like the lines of feathers on the well spread wings.
Excellent presentation.

Regards
Foozi

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