nr.415
Imperial Cormorant.
Coasts of Southern South America, Subantarctic islands, Antarctic
Peninsula.
Length: 72cm, Wingspan: 124cm, Stands: 38-40cm.
Adult plumage, head and upper parts are deep blue-black with a greeny-blue
gloss to wing coverts. Under parts, fore neck and lower chin white, with
demarcation line between dark and white below eye level. At beginning of
breeding season, develops a bright purple-blue eye ring, deep orange caruncles
and recurved crest on forehead, but as season progresses crest diminishes
and colour fades. During courtship and nest building a small patch of
filo plumes appears above and behind the eyes, begins to moult prior to
egg-laying and disappears by the time the first egg is laid. Facial skin
grey, feet pink to reddy-pink. Widely distributed, forming extensive colonies,
which may number several hundred pairs, on relatively flat but elevated
and open coastal situations, often in close association with Rockhopper
Penguins and sometimes with Black-browed Albatross. Breeding period varies,
but courtship and nest building usually begin mid to late October and egg
laying occurs between third week November and mid-December. The usual clutch
size is three with an incubation period of 29-30 days. Young birds fledge
in February after a rearing period of 46-50 days. Feeds offshore, often
in flocks, pursuing usually small schooling fish, by swimming, diving and
short flights. |
