• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is very large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Population justification
Wetlands International (2018) estimates the population at c. 36,000-201,000 individuals.

Trend justification
The population trend is difficult to determine because of uncertainty over the extent of threats to the species.

The species is not globally threatened, but suffers from ecosystem alteration and degradation through conversion of wetlands for farming and urban housing developments. Human encroaching of wetland areas in Australia has displaced some populations of this species, but so far suitable habitat has not been a limiting factor and birds have been able to move elsewhere. However, the negative effects of habitat conversion appears to be only partially offset by species adaptability (Orta et al. 2018). If habitat loss continues and expands in future, a point may be reached where there is no more suitable habitat for the species to colonise.

Text account compilers
Ekstrom, J., Fjagesund, T., Bennett, S., Butchart, S., Martin, R.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/little-pied-cormorant-microcarbo-melanoleucos on 18/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 18/12/2024.