Any birding safari in Uganda can never disappoint, because over 1066 birds recorded in Uganda and one cannot miss spotting the Cormorants which are usually seen along the banks of Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Visiting Uganda for a safari is the best choice you can make to enjoy its array of wildlife and birdlife.
There are 38 species all over the world but Uganda boasts only 2 and these are Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and Long-tailed Cormorant (Phalacrocorax Africanus). The long-tailed cormorant is also called the Reed cormorant with length of 50 to 55cm and weighs not more than 700g. It has a long tail which is black in color and the whole body plumage is dark black. The male is differentiated from the female by size – the male is larger than the female.
Long-tailed cormorants make a hissing crackle sound when going to perch and nest. On the other hand, cormorant is the most common water bird normally spotted on a birding safari in Uganda. It’s large and has a black color, weighing between 1.5kg and 5kg and males tend to be larger than females just like long-tailed cormorant. Their length goes between 70cm to 120cm.
Cormorants are known to inhabit areas near freshwater bodies, and feed mainly on fish as they dive into the water to catch their prey. On the nesting, cormorants normally build their nest far away from predators, like along the cliffs and the materials used include hard sticks, seaweed and can also build their nests in trees using material like sticks, feathers and grass. These nests are the same used during breeding time which is not common to other birds like guinea fowls.
The females lay three to five eggs which take about 28 to 31 days to hatch after incubation. They are not polygamous which means that a male cormorant can only have one partner. Their breeding season normally is in line with other birds like herons, western cattle egrets, among others and again they breed in groups comprising of 10 to 50 couples.
Cormorants feed on fresh food and they mainly depend on fish but other foods include crabs, frogs, and insects among others. They hunt their prey in waters not exceeding 2 meters deep, using their webbed feet.
Huge population of cormorants has been reduced by their main threat such as the African fish eagle, Osprey among others. Cormorants live together with pelicans along the shores of Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This park was named after the Queen of England following her visit in 1952. It was originally called Kazinga national park.
On your visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will take a boat cruise along Kazinga channel where you will be able to spot cormorants resting after feeding or while they hunt for fish and insects. A typical game drive can take about 3 – 4 hours. Other birds that will be spotted along with Cormorants include terns, one of the migratory birds and pelicans, marabou stalk among others while the hippos and crocodiles thrill in water.
Best time to spot Cormorants in Uganda.
Uganda has favorable climate that any person can enjoy either during day and night and throughout the year. Therefore any day of the year, travelers can visit Uganda for birding safaris. Travelers however prefer to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park in dry season when the park roads are easily accessed and this season starts from December to February and June to September. Our team is ready to take you places where cormorants can be spotted.
