The Long-tailed cormorant is also known as A Reed cormorant and can be found all over The Gambia where there is water. It is of course related to The Great cormorant but around half its size as in photo 1. All pictures are ©Rob Carr.
Bird information.
Where can we see a Long-tailed cormorant?
The Cormorants pictured above were photographed ( left to right ) close to the beach by Footsteps, at Kartong river and the last two at Kotu creek.
What does it look like?
This is a small cormorant at 50–55 cm in length and an 85 cm wingspan. It is mainly black, glossed green, in the breeding season. The wing coverts are silvery. It has a longish tail, a short head crest and a red or yellow face patch. The bill is yellow.
Sexes are similar, but non-breeding adults and juveniles are browner, with a white belly. Some southern races retain the crest all year round. Source Wikipedia
What do they feed on?
They are skilled fishermen so they feed on fish preferring small slow fish such as Catfish.
Want to know an interesting Factoid?
They can dive to approximately 5 metres and stay underwater for more than 30 seconds.
How do they sound?
When roosting its call is a fast repetitive “a-a-a-a-a-a”