Age at first breeding of Bank Cormorants, Phalacrocorax neglectus, and Cape Cormorants, P-capensis

Some Bank Cormorants, Phalacrocorox neglectus, breed when two years old, bu t others defer breeding until aged three years. Their mean age at breeding is about 2.5 years. Although some Cape Cormorants, P. capensis, breed when 1.5 years old or less, their breeding success may be poor at this age and t he usual pattern of summer breeding probably means that most do not breed u ntil they are about two years old. Poor feeding conditions may cause postpo nement of breeding by Cape Cormorants until they are three years old.