Little Black Cormorant

Little Black Cormorant is common in smaller rivers and lakes throughout most of Australia and northern New Zealand, where it is known as the little black shag. It is a small cormorant measuring 60–65 cm and is all black with blue-green eyes (Wikipedia, general species account). The species is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It is common in smaller rivers and lakes throughout most areas of Australia and northern New Zealand, where it is known as the little black shag. (Wikipedia, general species account).

A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2019 found that the little black cormorant was sister to the Indian cormorant. Its recorded distribution includes New Zealand's North Island. It is a predominantly freshwater species, found in bodies of water inland and occasionally sheltered coastal areas. More gregarious than other cormorants, the little black cormorant can be found in large flocks. A field study at two storage lakes, Lake Cargelligo and Lake Brewster, in south-western New South Wales found that the introduced common carp made up over half of its food intake. (Wikipedia, general species account).