black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Synonyms: Phalacrocorax albus Tray
Phalacrocorax aristotelis Linnaeus, 1761
Common names: Bulg: Sreden cormaran; Engl: Shag; Rom: Cormaran motat; Russ:
Khokhlaty baklan; Turk: Tepeli karabatak; Ukr: Baklan dovgonosy
Order PELECANIFORMES
Family PHALACROCORACIDAE
Taxonomic description. Around 650-750 pairs.
IUCN Status
World level: EN
Black Sea Regional level: EN
Subregion level: EN
Distribution, Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. Breeds in niches
and small cavities on the high cliffs of the Crimean coast. Monospecific colonies are
common, but sometimes they mix with Yellow-legged gulls and Rock doves. The
two kilometers of water adjacent to the Black Sea coast are its principal feeding
habitat. Small fish comprise its basic diet; copepods are also consumed. The major
limiting factors are disturbance of the breeding sites, and pollution by oil products and
by solid domestic waste.
Biology. A breeding and resident species. Arrival in the colony area depends on the
weather and is from late February to early April. Breeding density and altitude (3-15
m) vary. Clutch size 2-3, infrequently four eggs. Egg-laying extends for up to two
months. After leaving the nest, birds remain in the surroundings of the colony.
Second year birds, in some areas 30-50 % of the total, keep close to the colonies too.
The best assimilated feeding habitat is the 200 meter strip of sea along the shore-line.
Gobies (Gobiidae) and scads (Carangidae) predominate in the diet.
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