Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM14226, 2 Oct 1982 Sutherland Res (Wright 1983).
Taxonomy: Two subspecies are recognized (Gill and Donsker 2017), mexicanus in the extreme southern United States, Caribbean, and Nicaragua, and brasilianus from Costa Rica south throughout South America. Nebraska birds are presumed mexicanus.
Changes since 2001: Of the 20+ accepted records, 14 are from 2000-2016, indicative of increasing drift northward in recent years. Breeding first occurred in Kansas in 2007 (Thompson et al 2011), but as yet has not occurred in Nebraska.
This species is now essentially annual in occurrence, with reports statewide in seven of the last 10 years (2009-2018). Earlier dates are 1-2 on 12 Mar-16 Apr 2012 Branched Oak Lake, Lancaster Co (Brogie 2013), and 21 Mar-25 Aug 2017 Branched Oak Lake (Silcock 2017a, 2017b, 2017c) and 29 Mar 2018 at Branched Oak Lake (Shari Schwartz, John Carlini, https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44109139) and a later date 26 Nov 2010 Branched Oak Lake (Silcock 2010). Additional early sightings without details are of one in flight with Double-crested Cormorants in Buffalo Co 16 Mar 2012, and one at Branched Oak Lake 26 Mar 1998 (Brogie 1999).
Photograph (top) of a Neotropic Cormorant at Branched Oak Lake, Lancaster Co 17 Sep 2018 by Michael Willison.
Brogie, M.A. 2013. 2012 (24th) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR: 81: 120-130.
Silcock, W.R. 2010. Fall Field Report, August-November 2010. NBR 78: 130-150.
Silcock, W.R. 2017a. Spring Field report, March-May 2017. NBR 85: 54-83.
Silcock, W.R. 2017b. Summer Field Report, June-July 2017. NBR 85: 94-120.
Silcock, W.R. 2017c. Fall Field Report, August-November 2017. NBR 85: 146-178.