Australian pied cormorant

The Australian pied cormorant, Phalacrocorax varius, is a medium sized member of the cormorant family Phalacrocoracidae found around the coasts of Australasia, occurring in New Zealand south to Christchurch on the east coast and across most Australian states except Tasmania, with especially abundant populations in the southwest. It measures 65 to 85 centimeters tall with a wingspan of 110 to 130 centimeters, and males typically weigh around 2.2 kilograms against about 1.7 kilograms for females, with black upperparts, white underparts, and a small yellow patch between the bill and the eye that helps distinguish it from similar species. Its large webbed feet aid underwater pursuit of fish, and a nictitating membrane protects its eyes during dives that typically last about 40 seconds. It is listed as Least Concern with a stable, widespread population. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/