Neotropic Cormorant

The Neotropic Cormorant is the most widely dispersed cormorant in South America and the only one found far away from coasts in the interior of the continent. It measures around 60-70 cm in length, has a wingspan of 1 m, and weighs between 1.2-1.4 kg. There is no sexual dimorphism. From far away, the adult appears entirely black, but under proper lighting, its back shows bronze-green tones. It has a relatively long neck and a rather small head. Its eyes are emerald green. The beak is long and thin and ends with a hooked nail; it is gray-black with the base of the lower mandible being yellow. During the reproduction period, white feathers form a V at the base of the beak and white filoplumes appear behind the eye and in the ear region. The palmate feet are black. The juveniles are brown with the throat being lighter. They acquire the black plumage of adults around the age of two.
It looks very similar to the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) but their distribution areas only marginally overlap in the south of the United States and in the north of Mexico. The Neotropic Cormorant is smaller. The yellow at the base of its beak is less extensive and of a different shape; pointing back, giving the white V described before.