Order: Suliformes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
The Guanay Cormorant is a striking black-and-white seabird native to the Pacific coasts of South America, including parts of Patagonia. It is easily recognized by its black head, neck, and back, contrasting with a white throat and underparts. This species is highly social, nesting in dense colonies on rocky islands and coastal cliffs. Guanay Cormorants are renowned for their role in the guano industry, as their droppings accumulate in vast quantities and have been used as fertilizer for centuries. Their populations have fluctuated due to overharvesting of guano and changes in fish stocks, but they remain an important part of coastal ecosystems. The species is agile in the water, using its webbed feet to pursue fish and other prey beneath the surface.
Extinct. It used to nest in Punta León, Chubut. Very abundant throughout the Pacific (e.g. Perú).
Habitat
Rocky coastal cliffs, offshore islands, and occasionally sheltered bays along the Pacific coast and parts of southern South America.
Foraging
Dives underwater to catch small fish, especially anchovies and sardines, often foraging in large, coordinated flocks.