Cape Cormorant
Cape CormorantCape CormorantCape CormorantCape Cormorant

Cape Cormorant

Phalacrocorax capensis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Namib-Naukluft National Park
485 Verified records at Namib-Naukluft National Park
December Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The Cape cormorant (Phalacrocorax capensis), also known as the Cape shag, is a member of the cormorant family. It is endemic to the southwestern coast of Africa, and classified as "Endangered" by the IUCN. The Cape cormorant is most closely related to the great cormorant and Japanese cormorant. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Cormorant sighting in Namib-Naukluft National Park, based on 485 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Namib-Naukluft National Park

Great Cormorant
LC Endemic

Great Cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax carbo

30–40% · Possible
Bank Cormorant
EN

Bank Cormorant

Bird

Phalacrocorax neglectus

<5% · Rare
Crowned Cormorant
LC

Crowned Cormorant

Bird

Microcarbo coronatus

20–30% · Possible
Long-tailed Cormorant
LC

Long-tailed Cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Microcarbo africanus

<5% · Rare
Cape Gannet
EN

Cape Gannet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Morus capensis

5–10% · Rare
African Darter
LC

African Darter

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anhinga rufa

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

30–40
Jan
30–40
Feb
30–40
Mar
30–40
Apr
30–40
May
30–40
Jun
30–40
Jul
40–50
Aug
30–40
Sep
40–50
Oct
30–40
Nov
50–60
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
30–40%
2 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
3 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
4 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
5 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Cape Cormorant in Namib-Naukluft National Park?

About 39% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Cormorant sighting in Namib-Naukluft National Park, based on 485 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Cape Cormorant in Namib-Naukluft National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for Cape Cormorant in Namib-Naukluft National Park in our monthly data.

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