Bird field guide · Cormorants and Shags

Photographing the Neotropic Cormorant

How to photograph the Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (April).

70–100 cm1/2500–1/4000 s
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum)
Photo: © Vladimir Rebellón Palmezano, some rights reserved (CC BY) via iNaturalist
70–100 cm
Typical length (family range)
1/1000 s
Shutter: perched / still
1/2500–1/4000 s
Shutter: action / flight
f/7.1–f/8
Aperture
40,322
Research-grade sightings in N. America
ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float
Shutter (still)1/1000 s
Shutter (action)1/2500–1/4000 s
Aperturef/7.1–f/8
FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionBright sand and surf fool meters — dial in exposure manually or with auto-ISO and compensation.
DriveHigh-speed burst
Lens100–400 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 85 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally.

Distance⅓ of frame (FF)½ of frame (FF)⅓ of frame (APS-C)⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)69 mm104 mm46 mm34 mm
10 m (33 ft)138 mm207 mm92 mm69 mm
15 m (49 ft)207 mm311 mm138 mm103 mm
20 m (66 ft)276 mm415 mm184 mm138 mm
30 m (98 ft)414 mm622 mm276 mm207 mm
50 m (164 ft)689 mm1,037 mm459 mm345 mm

When to find it#

Jan: 10% Jan Feb: 10% Feb Mar: 11% Mar Apr: 16% Apr May: 10% May Jun: 6% Jun Jul: 7% Jul Aug: 6% Aug Sep: 6% Sep Oct: 6% Oct Nov: 6% Nov Dec: 8% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: April.

About the 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...

Summary adapted from Wikipedia via iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field-craft tips#

  • Drying wings on posts — easy, characterful poses.
  • Bright sand and surf fool meters — dial in exposure manually or with auto-ISO and compensation.
  • Sightings peak in April, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

  • The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
  • Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
  • Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
  • Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.

More Cormorants and Shags#

Double-crested Cormorant Double-crested CormorantNannopterum auritum Brandt's Cormorant Brandt's CormorantUrile penicillatus Pelagic CormorantUrile pelagicus

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph a Neotropic Cormorant?

At about 85 cm long, a neotropic cormorant fills a third of a full-frame image at 10 m with roughly 138 mm, or at 20 m with 276 mm.

What shutter speed should I use for a Neotropic Cormorant?

1/1000 s when it's still; 1/2500–1/4000 s for action.

When is the best time to photograph a Neotropic Cormorant?

Observations in North America peak in April. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and activity.

Sources & licences#

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources