INDIAN SHAG & LITTLE CORMORANT

The Indian shag (Phalacrocorax fucicollis) is slightly smaller than the preceding species and is intermediate in size between the large Cormorant and the little cormorant. Its plumage is black like that of the large cormorant, but in its breeding plumage, there are white feather tufts behind the ears and white spots on the head and neck. It is found all over India and Sri Lanka, frequenting large rivers, lakes and jheels. It breeds in colonies, nesting in trees, from July to December. The little cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger) is the smallest of our Indian species of cormorants being about the size of a large jungle crow but duck-like in appearance. The bill is sharply hooked at the tip. It occurs throughout India, Burma and Sri Lanka and is usually found singly or in flocks on tanks, lakes, jheels and brackish water lagoons, estuaries and swamps. They are expert divers and swimmers and breed in colonies, nesting in trees, often in company with other water birds.