Pygmy Cormorant
Microcarbo pygmaeus
About This Species
Small, dark waterbird found on freshwater lakes, slow rivers, reedy wetlands and coastal lagoons across southeastern Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia. Look for a low-riding silhouette on the water with only the head and neck showing, or perches with wings spread to dry after diving for small fish. Most active by day, gathering in loose flocks at favoured roosts, especially outside the breeding season.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Viewing from a hide, boat or the opposite bank with binoculars avoids flushing birds from open water or reed-edge roosts.
- Nesting colonies in reedbeds and waterside trees are sensitive to disturbance and are protected under national wildlife law in much of its European range, so keep well back and avoid pushing through reeds during the breeding season.
LCAvesSuliformesPhalacrocoracidae
Seasonal Activity
148,091 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Suliformes
- Family
- Phalacrocoracidae
Photo
(c) Paul Cools, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Paul Cools
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.