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Display and Sexual Activities of the Little Cormorant,
Phalacrocorax niger (Ciconiformes: Phalacrocoracidae) in Captivity
Habibon Naher and Noor Jahan Sarker
Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Abstract
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Display and sexual activities of the little cormorant (Phalacrocorax
niger) was studied on 19 birds from November 2000 to December 2001. The study
was conducted in captivity in the Dhaka Zoo, Mirpur. Displaying behavior
commenced in mid February. The male took initiative to select the nest site
mostly in trees especially in vertical forked branches. The twigs of peacock
flower (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) were used as nesting materials. After the
response of the female the bisexual displays started. During this time the male
and female always sat together and displayed. Within 1 to 2 days of mutual
displays the female ate regurgitated foods from the gular pouch of the male.
With this the pair formation occurred permanently. Within 2 to 3 days of pair
formation mounting took place. At the end of mounting the male flew away and the
female jerked her body and ruffed her feathers. Then the male started to collect
nesting materials but both of the male and female placed it together on to the
nest, giving more or less a circular cup-like shape. The time required in nest
building was 14 to 16 days.
Key words: Display, sexual activities, little cormorant; Phalacrocorax niger.
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