| IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): | Least Concern
|
|---|
| Approximate size(adult): | A medium-sized cormorant measuring 63–70 cm in length with a wingspan of about 100 cm. It has a slender neck, bluish eyes, dark brown to black plumage, and a narrow bill with a hooked tip.
|
|---|
| Resident/ Migrate from: | Resident across much of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, with some local seasonal movements.
|
|---|
| Migrate to: | Generally non-migratory, though may disperse locally in response to water levels or food availability.
|
|---|
| Breeding season: | Breeds mainly from November to February in southern India and June to September in the north. Nests colonially in trees near water bodies. Clutch size typically 3–5 eggs.
|
|---|
| Breed in: | Builds stick nests in colonies on trees near lakes, rivers, and marshes. Often nests with herons, egrets, and other cormorants.
|
|---|
| Habitat: | Found in inland freshwater wetlands, including rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and marshes, occasionally in coastal lagoons. Avoids open sea.
|
|---|
| Diet: | Entirely piscivorous, feeding mainly on small to medium-sized fish. Dives underwater to catch prey, often seen drying wings on perches after fishing.
|
|---|
