Black-faced Cormorant

1. Completely black face with blue-green eyes and no crest

2. Crisp division between black upper parts and white underparts

3. Black "trousers" marking on each thigh against white underparts

These cormorants breed in colonies on offshore islands, typically from September to January. They build ground nests using seaweed and grasses on bare rock. Usually silent except during courtship when males produce a guttural grunt and females respond with soft hissing sounds. After fishing dives, they famously spread their wings to dry their non-waterproofed feathers.

Black-faced Cormorants inhabit the southern coastlines of mainland Australia and Tasmania, particularly in Bass Strait and Spencer Gulf. Look for them on rocky headlands, offshore islands, and in deep inlets – they rarely venture to sandy beaches. Dawn and dusk are excellent times to spot them fishing in coastal waters or gathered in groups on favourite rocky perches. Watch for their low, direct flight pattern just above the water's surface as they travel between fishing spots.

As a true native of Australia's southern shores, the Black-faced Cormorant has long been part of our coastal ecosystems. Unlike some other cormorant species that venture inland to freshwater habitats, these dedicated marine specialists have remained steadfastly connected to our ocean environments throughout their history in Australia.