Red-legged Cormorant

The Red-legged Cormorant is classified as Near Threatened (NT), is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.

The Red-legged Cormorant (Phalacrocorax gaimardi) is a species of bird in the Phalacrocoracidae family. It is found in Argentina, Chile, Falkland Islands, and Peru. Its natural habitats are shallow seas and rocky shores. It is threatened by habitat loss. References - * BirdLife International 2006. Phalacrocorax gaimardi. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 27 July 2007. More

Red-legged cormorants (RLC) are conspicuous seabirds in the Humboldt Current. In Peru, they are mostly a solitary, cliff nesting seabird. Three basic features are associated with the choice of nesting sites: vertical walls (either in open cliffs, sea caves or islets), rocky substrate and the presence of the sea below their nests. The southern and central coast of Peru (from Morro Sama to Chimbote) held more RLC (90%) than the northern coast (10%). More

The male and female red-legged cormorant are similar in appearance (5), while the juvenile is variable in colouration, but generally browner, paler or mottled below, and with a dark gular pouch and orange or dark-coloured legs (2) (4). Red-legged cormorants from the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of South America differ slightly in size and colouration, and have sometimes been treated as separate subspecies (5). More

Red-legged cormorant on a cliff Red-legged cormorant on a cliffPrint factsheet Facts - Also known as: Gaimard’s cormorant, red-footed cormorant, red-footed shag, red-legged shag Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Pelecaniformes Family Phalacrocoracidae Genus More