Least Concern Birds

Long-tailed Cormorant

Microcarbo africanus

Long-tailed Cormorant is a fish-eating bird found near African freshwater lakes.

Scientific name	Microcarbo africanus
Swahili name	Mkoko wa nyasi
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Phalacrocoracidae
Size	Male: body length approximately 50-60 cm, weight about 500-700 g; female: slightly smaller and lighter

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How to identify

Medium to small-sized body; plumage mainly black with green metallic sheen; short hooked bill; relatively long neck, small crest on head; eyes green or bluish-green

Habitat

Freshwater lakes, rivers, swamps, reed beds, and wetland edges

Diet

Carnivorous, primarily feeding on small fish and also small aquatic invertebrates

When it is active

Diurnal, active during the day, especially more feeding activity in early morning and evening

Where it lives

Widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya and the Masai Mara region

How to spot it

Observe quietly near wetlands and reed beds; best photographed at dawn or dusk; use telephoto lenses to capture fishing behavior

Photography tips

Recommended to use telephoto lenses; pay attention to light angles to highlight the metallic sheen of feathers; capture moments of diving and wing-spreading