Guanay Cormorant Phalacrocorax bougainvillii

The Guanay Cormorant is a black-and-white cormorant of the Pacific Coast of South America. Adults have black upperparts, white bellies, red facial skin, and reddish legs. This species feeds in the open waters of the Humboldt Current off Chile and Peru, and breeds on islands and coastal headlands. Particularly during El Niño years, birds may disperse north to Panama and south to Cape Horn. It feeds almost entirely on the schooling fish anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) by diving from the surface, often in flocks that feed cooperatively. Birds also nest together in large, dense colonies on relatively flat terrain. Breeding success is heavily tied to food availability, and can vary dramatically between years.