Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) is in the Cormorants and Shags family (Phalacrocoracidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 19,923 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Neotropic Cormorant: observations by month (U.S.)
About Neotropic Cormorant
The neotropic cormorant or olivaceous cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) is a medium-sized cormorant found throughout the American tropics and subtropics, from the middle Rio Grande and the Gulf and Californian coasts of the United States south through Mexico and Central America to southern South America, where it is called by the Indian name of biguá. It also breeds on the Bahamas, Cuba and Trinidad. It can be found both at coasts (including some mangrove areas) and on...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Neotropic Cormorant by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 13,701 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Arizona | 2,611 | March | Nov–Jun |
| California | 1,299 | August | Dec–Oct |
| Louisiana | 727 | October | Sep–Aug |
| New Mexico | 624 | April | Jan–May |
| Utah | 170 | April | Jan–Aug |
| Florida | 128 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Ohio | 94 | April | Mar–May |
| Oklahoma | 81 | March | Mar–Aug |
| Illinois | 63 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Colorado | 51 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Mississippi | 46 | August | May–Sep |
| Minnesota | 34 | July | May–Sep |
| Michigan | 31 | May | May–Jul |
| Nevada | 31 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Tennessee | 29 | March | Mar–Apr |
| New York | 26 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Missouri | 25 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Kansas | 19 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Maryland | 17 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Nebraska | 16 | June | May–Jun |
| Indiana | 14 | May | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 10 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 9 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 8 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Montana | 7 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Georgia | 6 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Iowa | 6 | April | Apr–Jun |
| New Jersey | 6 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arkansas | 5 | July | Jul–Aug |
| North Carolina | 5 | April | Apr–Apr |
| North Dakota | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Virginia | 5 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Cormorants and Shags)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Neotropic Cormorant?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to February.
Where is Neotropic Cormorant most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Arizona, California.