Cape Cormorant

Phalacrocorax capensis (Sparrman, 1788)

Cape Cormorant, Phalacrocorax capensis, breeds along the southern African coast from southern Angola to the tip of South Africa. It is a cormorant in the family Phalacrocoracidae and is also known as the Cape shag. The species is tied to the southwestern coast of Africa and keeps close to the Benguela Upwelling System. It nests in colonies in remote coastal places, including islands, rocks, cliffs and ledges, and also uses man-made guano platforms off Namibia as roosting and nesting sites.

Order

Suliformes

Family

Phalacrocoracidae — Cormorants, Shags

Breeding range

Africa: s coastal Africa: s Angola to s tip of Africa