Phalacrocorax fuscescens
Silhouette: L. Shyamal · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
The black-faced cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscescens), also known as the black-faced shag, is a medium-sized member of the cormorant family. Upperparts, including facial skin and bill, are black, with white underparts. It is endemic to coastal regions of southern Australia.
Like other cormorant species, the black-faced cormorant is a large aquatic bird, with a long hooked bill, webbed feet, and monochromatic plumage. This is one of the largest cormorants found in south-western Australia and has pied plumage with the upper half of its body black and the undersides white. Its face is naked and black, hence the "black-faced" name, and the tail, feet, and thighs are also black. The back feathers are glossy, and its bill is dark grey with a prominent hook at the tip. It has blue-green eyes. When flying, it holds its head level or lower than its body and holds its wings in a cross-shape like most cormorants.
Species that are similar in appearance include the pied cormorant (slightly larger) and the little pied cormorant (slightly smaller). The breeding and non-breeding plumages are very similar, with the formation of fine white streaks along the neck during... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maria Island National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Freycinet National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melbourne Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes | 🇫🇷 France |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black-faced Cormorant sighting in Great Otway National Park on a given day, based on 276 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 71st most-seen of the 175 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black-faced Cormorant in Great Otway National Park on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black-faced Cormorant sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
4th of 4
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Black-faced Cormorant sightings, Great Otway National Park ranks 4th at about 10%. The best odds are in Maria Island National Park (Australia, about 50%), Freycinet National Park (Australia, about 40%) and Wilsons Promontory National Park (Australia, about 10%).
Same genus: Phalacrocorax
The closest relatives of the Black-faced Cormorant that you can see in Great Otway National Park (genus Phalacrocorax, Typical Old World Cormorants) are Great Cormorant (about 20%), Little Black Cormorant (about 10%) and Australian Pied Cormorant (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black-faced Cormorant is recorded against all the birds logged in Great Otway National Park (276 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
