Kleptoparasitism of a Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) by a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Ryan A.C. Leys^1,* and Jenny F. Andrews²

¹University of Waterloo, Department of Biology, 200 University Avenue W, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada. ORCID: 0000-0001-9295-1003. ²Beacon Environmental Ltd., 373 Woolwich Street, Guelph, ON N1H 3W4, Canada. *Corresponding author.

Southeastern Naturalist, Volume 23, Issue 3 (2024): N29–N30

First published early online: 3 August 2024

Abstract
We observed kleptoparasitism by a Ardea Herodias (Great Blue Heron) on a Nannopterum auritum (Double-crested Cormorant) at Harns Marsh, Fort Myers, FL. The cormorant surfaced with a large Oreochromis niloticus (Nile Tilapia) in its bill, and the heron immediately flew over and stole the fish from the cormorant. This is the first reported case of a Great Blue Heron kleptoparasitizing a Double-crested Cormorant and of a Great Blue Heron successfully engaging in kleptoparasitism of an animal sitting in deep water.

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