Flightless Cormorant

With only 1500 estimated individuals, it is one of the world's rarest birds and is the subject of an active conservation program.

The Flightless Cormorant is classified as Endangered (EN), considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

The Flightless Cormorant is unique in that it is the only cormorant that has lost the ability to fly. Once it was placed in its own genus, Nannopterum or Compsohalieus, although current taxonomy places it in the genus with most of the other cormorants, Phalacrocorax. With only 1500 estimated individuals, it is one of the worlds rarest birds and is the subject of an active conservation programme. More

even in the flightless cormorant but commonly in the Antarctic shags and red-legged cormorants. Alternate functions suggested for the spread-wing posture include that it aids thermoregulation, digestion, balances the bird or indicates presence of fish. A detailed study of the Great Cormorant concludes that it is without doubt to dry the plumage. Cormorants are colonial nesters, using trees, rocky islets, or cliffs. The eggs are a chalky-blue colour. There is usually one brood a year. The young are fed through regurgitation. More

The Flightless Cormorant is the largest extant member of its family, 89–100 cm (35-40in) in length and weighing 2.5–5.0 kg (5.5-11 lbs), and its wings are about one-third the size that would be required for a bird of its proportions to fly. The keel on the breastbone, where birds attach the large muscles needed for flight, is also greatly reduced. The upperparts are blackish and the underparts are brown. The long beak is hooked at the tip and the eye is turquoise. More

The flightless cormorant (Nannopterum harrisi) is the only cormorant (family Phalacrocoracidae) found in the Galapagos, and of the 27-28 cormorant species world-wide, it is the only one that has lost the ability to fly. So unusual is the flightless cormorant by comparison to other cormorants, that most authors place it in a separate genus - all other cormorants belong to the genus Phalacrocorax.. Like other flightless birds, the keel on the breast bone, which supports the large flight muscles, is drastically reduced. More

The Flightless Cormorant of the Galápagos Islands also seems to belong here. Its wings have been reduced by evolution to tiny size, it is extremely apomorphic due to its flightlessness, and its plumage is entirely nondescript. More

although their population size is small, Flightless Cormorants can recover fairly quickly from environmental disasters. Conservation - Swimming on sea water These cormorants evolved on an island habitat that was free of predators. Having no enemies, and taking its food primarily through diving along the food-rich shorelines, the bird eventually became flightless. More

The flightless cormorant, one of the many species endemic to the Galápagos Islands, is nevertheless highly skilled at swimming and diving for its food. Restricted to a handful of coastal sites, its fishing expeditions do not cause it to venture much more than 100 metres offshore. So how did cormorants first arrive here? The most likely answer is that its ancestors could fly. More

The flightless cormorant feeds on octopuses, eels and bottom-dwelling fishes, which it hunts for by making pursuit-dives (3). All cormorants are aquatic predators, but their feathers are not waterproof. A behaviour characteristic of the family is to adopt a stance after emerging from the water in which the wings are held open in order to dry the feathers. Flightless cormorants retain this behaviour, and are commonly seen holding their small ragged wings at their sides (7). More

The flightless cormorant, also known as the Galapagos cormorant, is a large, blackish coloured bird. The tiny, scruffy-looking wings indicate the flightless habit of the species (2). This species is the only flightless cormorant and the heaviest member of the family (4). Like other flightless birds, the sternum (breastbone) has lost the pronounced keel, which in most birds is the site of attachment for the well-developed flight muscles (3). More

Because of these factors, the Flightless Cormorant is one of the world's rarest birds. A survey carried out by the Charles Darwin Research Station in 2004 indicated that the species has a population of about 1,500 individuals. All populations of this species are found within the Galapagos National Park and Marine Reserve; furthermore, the archipelago was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1979. The Charles Darwin Research Station has monitored the species regularly to keep track of fluctuations in numbers over time. More

The Flightless Cormorant, Nannopterum harrisi, is a cormorant native to the Galapagos Islands. It is the only cormorant that has lost the ability to fly and has been placed in its own genus, Nannopterum. Like all cormorants, this bird has webbed feet and powerful legs that propel it though ocean waters as it seeks its prey of fish, eels, small octopuses, and other small creatures. They feed near the bottom and no more than 100 m offshore. More

The Flightless Cormorant evolved in an isolated island environment More

In the absence of predators and thus not needing to fly, the flightless cormorants wings have degenerated to the point that it has lost the ability to fly, however it can swim superbly and is a capable underwater hunter. Punta Albemarle, Nannopterum harrisi, Phalacrocorax harrisi, Isabella Island Purchase A Print Of This ImageHow to request, purchase or license this imageAdd To Light Table Flightless cormorant perched on volcanic coastline. More

The Flightless Cormorant is a cormorant native to the Galapagos Islands, and an example of the highly unusual fauna there. It is unique in that it is the only cormorant that has lost the ability to fly. With only 1500 estimated individuals, it is one of the world's rarest birds and is the subject of an active conservation programme. (wikipedia) *The only cormorant found in the islands , the flightless cormorant is a(95cm) dark brown-to-black bird. More

The Flightless Cormorant (Nannopterum harrisi, cormoran) is unmistakably recognized by the stubby vestigial appendages that serve as completely useless wings. Although they cannot fly, they are excellent swimmers that feed on small fish, eels, and octopus. Adults have black upper feathers and brown under feathers, but they—like the juveniles—look completely black when wet. They also have short black legs, large, black webbed feet, brilliant turquoise eyes, and a hooked, black bill. More

simondancer — 13 mars 2007 — A flightless cormorant feeds its chick on Fernandina, Galapagos. The smaller chick is unlikely to live.Catégorie : Animaux Tags :cormorant Galapagos Chargement… J'aime Enregistrer dans Partager E-mail Skyrock Facebook Twitter MySpace Live Spaces Blogger orkut Buzz reddit Digg Chargement… Connectez-vous ou inscrivez-vous dès maintenant ! Publier un commentaire * PeterDivine il y a 1 mois Wow... and I thought that penguins fed their young in awkward manners. More