The Cape Cormorant - Phalacrocorax capensis - is endemic to the southwestern coast of Southern Africa.

It is a medium sized cormorant, with a length of about 63 cm; the males are a little larger than the females. They are almost entirely glossy blue-black, with an orange throat patch. The bill is dark grey; the eyes turquoise and the legs and feet are black.

They are colonial breeders and the males defend their nesting sites vigorously. Their nests are untidy piles of sticks, bones, seaweed, feathers and other material, including human debris. The female lays a clutch of between one and four eggs that hatch after an incubation period of about 25 days.

In the 1970s, the breeding population was estimated as over 1 million in Namibia alone. However, the ICUN now classifies it as "Near Threatened" on the grounds of: ongoing pollution from oil slicks and the disturbance to stocks of its prey and nest-site predators such as Great White Pelicans and Kelp Gulls.

They commonly forage in flocks, taking schooling fish such as pilchards and anchovies. It prey's on much smaller prey than the Bank Cormorant.

These birds can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -

Aves Western Cape Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.

Aves West Coast Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.