207
Acrocephalus 25 (123): 207 – 212, 2004
1. Introduction
Pygmy Cormorants Phalacrocorax pygmeus, which 
breed on the Balkan Peninsula where the majority of 
the European breeding population is concentrated 
(Michev & Weber 1997), are partial migrants, 
spending the winter period partly inland and partly 
on or near the Adriatic, Aegean and northeastern 
Mediterranean coasts (Cramp 1998). The wintering 
flocks are often restricted to rivers, coastal lagoons and 
deltas, where foraging sites rich in food can be found, 
as well as to the riparian forests, which are utilized as 
roosting sites (Crivelli et al. 1996).
The species breeds regularly in Serbia, where 350 – 500 
pairs have been counted in the last decade (Puzovi} 
et al. 2003). Post-breeding movements are recorded 
all over Serbia (Luka~ & Luka~ 1992, Devi} 1995, 
Puzovi} et al. 1999, Gergelj et al. 2000, Stojni} 
2000, Gruba~ & Gruba~ 2001, Lakato{ 2001, 
Tucakov 2003, M. Ru`i} pers. comm.). Observations 
during the winter period are more frequent along the 
rivers (BirdLife International 2004). In the years 
1995 – 1998, the most important wintering grounds 
were situated along the Danube; in the immediate 
vicinity of Belgrade, in the Dubovac – ^ibuklija zone 
in southern Banat, and in the Negotinska Krajina in 
eastern Serbia, near the Iron Gates (Puzovi} et al. 
1999).     
Recent information on Pygmy Cormorants from 
Serbia is scarce (Weber 1994), despite the fact that the 
confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, within the 
city area of Belgrade, is known locally as a wintering 
site of the species (Paunovi} 1991 & 1993). There has 
been no regular monitoring for the winter population 
around Belgrade and recent information on wintering 
numbers, roosting sites, roosting behaviour (Cramp 
1998) and foraging areas is lacking. Moreover, apart 
from the recent increase of the breeding population 
(Michev & Weber 1997), it is still unknown whether 
numbers on the wintering grounds also increased. The 
aim of this paper is to try to answer these questions. 
2. Study area and methods
The study area lies within the city of Belgrade (UTM 
DQ56), northern Serbia. It comprises the confluence 
of the rivers Sava and Danube, from stream kilometer 
1969 to 1973 along the Danube and the last 10 
kilometers of the Sava river. Ada Ciganlija Island is 
located from stream kilometer 4 to 9 from the river 
mouth along the Sava, while Veliko Ratno Ostrvo 
Island stretches from kilometer 1970 to 1972 along 
the Danube. Close to Veliko Ratno Ostrvo’s southern 
tip another 100 m long islet called Malo Ratno Ostrvo 
(a.k.a. Konjska Ada) is located (Figure 1). All islands 
are covered with alluvial forests, dominated by Willows 
Salix sp. and Poplars Populus sp. Veliko Ratno Ostrvo 
comprises two marshy depressions, scrub, ruderal 
plants, arable land and summer cottages on stilts with 
vegetable gardens. The lowest water level occurs in late 
summer and throughout the winter (Paunovi} 1991). 
Point counts of wintering Pygmy Cormorants were 
carried out (1) from the U{}e (opposite to the Malo 
Ratno Ostrvo; observation point OP1), (2) from the 
4th kilometer of the Sava river’s left bank, overlooking 
the downriver end of the Ada Ciganlija Island and 
opposite the right bank roosting site (OP2), (3) from 
the 1st kilometer of the right bank of the Sava (OP3), 
and (4) in 2004, from the Belgrade district of Dor}ol 
(Danube right bank, 1170 kilometer – OP4; Figure 1). 
The surveys were conducted in 1996 (20 field trips), 
2001 (1 field trip), 2003 (2 field trips) and 2004 (3 
field trips).
Numbers and local movements of Pygmy Cormorants Phalacrocorax 
pygmeus wintering in Belgrade
[tevilo in lokalni premiki prezimujo~ih pritlikavih kormoranov Phalacrocorax 
pygmeus v Beogradu
Dragan V. Simi}1 & Marko Tucakov2
 1 Ustani~ka 144, 11050 Beograd, Serbia and Montenegro, e-mail: ddsimic@eunet.yu
 2 Marka Ore{kovi}a 9, 25275 Ba~ki Breg, Serbia and Montenegro, e-mail: mtucakov@eunet.yu
Kongres ornitologov Slovenije ob 25. obletnici DOPPS
Slovene Ornithologists’ Congress at the 25th anniversary of DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia
208
D.V. Simi} H & M. Tucakov: Numbers and local movements of Pygmy Cormorants Phalacrocorax pygmeus wintering in 
Belgrade
3. Results and discussion
Starting from the third decade of February until the 
first decade of April 1996, point counts at roost A 
were made from OP1, and movements towards roost 
B up the Sava River were noted. New roosting sites 
and the preferred way in which birds occupy it had 
been observed from OP2 and investigated from the 
water surface. In January 2001, a point count took 
place from OP3. In February to April 2003, the 
point counts made in 1996 were repeated using the 
same observation points (OP1, OP2) and nearly the 
same dates, while in 2004, the number of Pygmy 
Cormorants staying in the city in early spring (March 
to April) was recorded from OP2 and OP4. 
3.1. Survey in 1996
On Malo Ratno Ostrvo Islet (roost A), birds primarily 
occupied partly submerged willow roots protruding 
from an eroded bank, and lower branches close above 
the water surface, while the rest of the birds were 
forced to settle down on the steep bare soil. Roosting 
in the tree canopies was not recorded. 
At the Sava river (roost B), most of the birds roosted 
on a flooded mud bar by the right bank at the 4th river 
kilometer, overgrown with young White Willow Salix 
alba scrub, while part of the flock settled in willow 
scrub on Ada Ciganlija’s downstream end (Figure 2). 
The first birds arriving occupied the lowest branches, 
immediately above the water surface, while later birds 
occupied higher positions in the scrub, until the top 
branches were filled. 
Another, smaller site, used mostly as a day resting 
site, was discovered in a similar willow scrub at the 
southwest bank of the Veliko Ratno Ostrvo Island. 
Here 175 individuals were counted.  
In order to estimate the size of Belgrade’s wintering 
population of Pygmy Cormorants, a count was made 
on 24 Feb, when a total of 356 (33%) birds remained 
at the roost A, while an additional 724 (67%) birds 
occupied a new roosting site B. The total size of 
Belgrade’s wintering population in 1996 was estimated 
at 1080 individuals. 
3.2. Survey in 2001
On 12 Jan, from OP3 1200 individuals were counted 
leaving roost B.
3.3. Survey in 2003
Pygmy Cormorants utilised foraging areas upstream 
from roost B in the Sava river. Therefore on 23 Feb 
a survey was made from OP1, counting the birds 
foraging in the Danube (520 ind.); and on 27 Feb 
from OP2, counting the birds foraging in the Sava 
(300 ind.). The majority of birds (48%; 398 ind.) 
arrived flying down the Danube (from the NW) while 
only 5% (39 ind.) came flying up the Danube (from 
NE). 31% (254 ind.) arrived flying down the Sava 
(from the SW).  16% (129 ind.) of birds were flying 
very low over water, and were presumably feeding in 
the immediate vicinity of the islands. The total size of 
Belgrade’s wintering population was estimated at 820 
individuals. 
In 2003 Pygmy Cormorants no longer used site A 
for roosting. Only 25 to 30 birds spend the day on this 
site, leaving the place before sunset to fly to roost B.
Figure 1: Map of the study area. Roosting sites A and B 
are marked with grey squares, while observation points 
(OP1 – 4) are marked with black triangles pointing towards 
observed area.
Slika 1: Zemljevid obravnavanega obmo~ja: po~ivali{~i A 
in B sta ozna~eni s sivima kvadratoma, opazovalne to~ke 
(OP1 – 4) pa s ~rnimi trikotniki, ki ka`ejo v smer obmo~ja 
opazovanja
209
Acrocephalus 25 (123): 207 – 212, 2004
3.4. Survey in 2004
On 24 Mar, 710 individuals were counted from OP4, 
flying up the Danube towards the Sava river (from the 
NE). On 7 Apr 300 individuals were counted from 
OP4, and on 9 Apr an additional 300 birds were 
counted flying down the Sava River (from OP2), 
making an early April total of 600 birds. 
The daily rhythm of Pygmy Cormorant activity 
was linked to the length of daylight. The first flights 
towards roosting sites were 120 minutes before sunset 
with peak numbers 120 to 60 minutes before sunset, 
while by 30 minutes prior to sunset almost all birds 
had entered the roost site (Figure 3). In late February 
(sunset at 17:20), the most intensive movements 
towards the roosting sites were recorded between 
15.30 and 16.30.
3.5. Belgrade wintering population
The first survey of wintering Pygmy Cormorants in 
Belgrade was carried out in winter 1988/89, when only 
small flocks were recorded. From 3 Dec 1989 until 
3 Mar 1990, 500 individuals wintered in the area on 
Malo Ratno Ostrvo Islet, while in 1990/91 only 300 
individuals appeared. The Danube downstream from 
the roosting site was used mainly as a feeding area, 
but some birds fed upstream and in the Sava river 
(Paunovi} 1991). In the winter of 1991/92, Pygmy 
Cormorants had started to utilise roost B, but only as 
a day resting site (M. Paunovi} pers. comm.).  
The largest midwinter number of individuals 
wintering in Belgrade was recorded on 16 Jan 2001, 
when 1200 individuals moved from the roosting site 
B towards foraging areas in the Danube. Therefore, 
the maximum wintering numbers are estimated at 
1200 individuals throughout the late 90’s and at the 
begining of this decade.   
The Pygmy Cormorant makes fairly frequent 
diurnal feeding trips (Cramp 1998). The choice of 
foraging areas depends on the concentration of prey, 
the number of other fish-eating birds, and ice cover 
(Paunovi} 1991). Suitable waterbodies for foraging 
exist in our study area in the Danube flood zone, both 
upstream and downstream from roosting site A. The 
sites downstream were frozen in February 1996, in 
contrast to the 1989 – 1991 period (Paunovi} 1991). 
Presumably, this is the reason why, in February 1996, 
more than 90% of birds foraged upstream from Veliko 
Ratno Ostrvo. After the ice melted on the surrounding 
standing waterbodies in early March, about 40% 
of the birds chose feeding sites in the Danube flood 
zone and the Mika Alas fishpond, downstream 
from the roost site (Table 1). The exact location of 
feeding areas, however, remained unknown, but the 
presence of foraging individuals in winter had already 
been confirmed, primarily from upstream locations 
(Puzovi} & Gruba~ 2000, own data), and also 
roosting sites were described downstream (Dajovi} 
1998, Anonymous 2000, own data). Only a small 
number of birds foraged in the immediate vicinity of 
the roosting sites. Also, in comparison to 1989/1991 
Figure 2: Roosting site B of Pygmy Cormorants 
Phalacrocorax pygmeus, section on the right bank of the 
river Sava in Belgrade, 27 Feb 1996 (photo: D. Simi})
Slika 2: Po~ivali{~e B pritlikavih kormoranov Phalacrocorax 
pygmeus ob desnem bregu reke Save v Beogradu, 
27.2.1996 (foto: D. Simi})
Figure 3: Intensity of local movements of Pygmy 
Cormorants Phalacrocorax pygmeus from foraging areas 
to roosting sites (diamond peaks: 24 Feb 1996 (sunset at 
17:20); triangle peaks: 22 Mar 1996 (sunset at 17:50); 
square peaks: 25 Feb 2003 (sunset at 17:20)
Slika 3: Intenzivnost lokalnih premikov pritlikavih kormoranov 
Phalacrocorax pygmeus z njihov lovi{~ na po~ivali{~a (karo: 
24.2.1996 (son~ni zahod ob 17:20); trikotniki: 22.3.1996 
(son~ni zahod ob 17:50); kvadrati: 25.3.2003 (son~ni zahod 
ob 17:20)
210
(Paunovi} 1991) and 1996, an increased number of 
birds foraged upstream the Sava river.
Pygmy Cormorants utilise reedbeds and trees 
as communal and nocturnal roosting sites (Cramp 
1998). In both sites in the study area, birds roosted 
in young and relatively low White Willow scrub, up 
to 6 or 7 metres high, typical of communities of early 
stages of succession of alluvial soil bordering rivers or 
river islands. Roosting in trees with well developed 
canopies, which is characteristic of the Great 
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (e.g. Geister 1997, 
Lekuona & Campos 1998) was recorded by Paunovi} 
(1991), but was not observed during this study. Only 
on 4 Feb 2004 were 11 Pygmy Cormorants found in 
the developed crown of a smaller tree, resting for a 
short period during the day on the urbanized right 
bank of the Danube.  
Pygmy Cormorants often winter in large flocks 
(Cramp 1998). The number of individuals wintering 
in Belgrade appears to fluctuate from year to year, 
but has obviously increased from 500 birds at the 
beginning of the 90s (Paunovi} 1991), approximately 
1000 in the mid 90s (Puzovi} 1999, Puzovi} et al. 
1999, this study) to 1200 birds in 2001. This trend is in 
accordance with the recent increase of breeding pairs 
throughout the Balkan region (Michev & Weber 
1997, Willems & de Vries 1998, Puzovi} et al. 2003) 
and the colonization of new or previously abandoned 
breeding sites (Danko 1994, Vogrin 1996, Mikuska 
et al. 2002, Schneider-Jacoby et al. 2002). Because 
Pygmy Cormorants normally winter upstream from 
breeding colonies (Nov~i} & Barjaktarov 2002), 
birds wintering in Belgrade may originate from 
downstream colonies located in Serbia, Bulgaria and 
Romania (Cramp 1998). Since it is reported that the 
population increase on the breeding areas can be a 
consequence of increased fish densities (Willems & 
de Vries 1998), this factor should be considered when 
discussing the recent increase of wintering numbers. 
However, there are no recent fish population data 
available which could support that assumption.
The impact of human disturbance on both roosting 
sites in the city of Belgrade is unknown. In general, 
it appears that the species is relatively indifferent to 
human presence (Cramp 1998). However, the roosting 
site on Malo Ratno Ostrvo Islet was completely 
abandoned and all birds roosted in the Sava at the 
beginning of the 2000’s. During the same period, 
increased human activities were recorded close to 
Malo Ratno Ostrvo. In a study at a breeding site in 
Greece, however, a negative correlation between the 
density of feeding birds and human disturbance was 
recorded by Willems & de Vries (1998). 
According to Delany & Scott (2002), the 
number of Pygmy Cormorants regularly observed 
during winter in our study area exceeds 1% of the 
population threshold (400 ind.), and, together with 
wintering numbers of other waterbirds (Paunovi} 
1991, own data), qualifies the sector from Veliko Ratno 
Ostrvo to Ada Ciganlija for nomination as a Ramsar 
site. Currently, the study area supports 12.5% of the 
wintering population of Pygmy Cormorants in Serbia 
and Montenegro (compared to Burfield & van 
Bommel 2004)
Acknowledgements: We are cordially grateful to 
O. Vasi} for help on willow species determination.   
Summary
There is little recent information on Pygmy Cormorants 
Phalacrocorax pygmeus from Serbia. However, the 
confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers is known 
locally as a wintering site of the species. The study 
area lies within the city of Belgrade (UTM DQ56), 
northern Serbia. It comprises the confluence of the 
rivers Sava and Danube and the last 10 kilometers of 
the Sava river. Point counts were conducted  in 1996, 
2001, 2003 and 2004. In both sites in the study area, 
Malo Ratno Ostrvo Islet and at the bank of Sava river, 
Table 1: Proportion of Pygmy Cormorants Phalacrocorax pygmeus observed at U{}e (OP1) flying to the roosting sites A and 
B from two directions between 24 Feb and 4 Apr 1996 (in brackets the number of observed individuals is stated)
Tabela 1: Dele` pritlikavih kormoranov Phalacrocorax pygmeus, opazovanih med letom z U{}a (OP1) proti po~ivali{~ema A in 
B iz dveh smeri med 24.2. in 4.4.1996, s {tevilom opazovanih osebkov v oklepaju
Date / datum NW direction / SZ smer NE direction / SV smer Total / skupaj
24 Feb 94% (1015 ind.) 6%     (65 ind.) 1080 ind.
22 Mar 60%     (413 ind.) 40% (276 ind.) 689 ind.
29 Mar 57%      (410 ind.) 43%  (310 ind.) 720 ind.
  4 Apr 93%       (481 ind.) 7%     (36 ind.) 517 ind.
D.V. Simi} H & M. Tucakov: Numbers and local movements of Pygmy Cormorants Phalacrocorax pygmeus wintering in 
Belgrade
211
Acrocephalus 25 (123): 207 – 212, 2004
birds roosted in young and relatively low White Willow 
Salix alba scrub, up to 6 or 7 metres high, typical of 
communities of early stages of succession of alluvial 
soil bordering rivers or river islands. The number of 
individuals wintering in Belgrade probably fluctuates 
from year to year, but has obviously increased from 
500 birds at the beginning of the 90s, 1080 individuals 
in February 1996 to 1200 birds in January 2001. The 
number of Pygmy Cormorants observed regularly 
during winter in our study area exceeds 1% of the 
population threshold (400 individuals), and, together 
with wintering numbers of other waterbirds, qualifies 
the sector from Veliko Ratno Ostrvo to Ada Ciganlija 
for nomination as a Ramsar site. Currently, the study 
area supports 12.5% of the wintering population of 
Pygmy Cormorants in Serbia and Montenegro.
Povzetek
O pritlikavem kormoranu Phalacrocorax pygmeus, 
pojavljajo~em se v Srbiji, so bili v zadnjih letih na 
voljo le redki podatki, pa ~eprav je soto~je Save in 
Donave v samem Beogradu (UTM DQ56) skupaj 
z zadnjimi 10 km toka reke Save lokalno znano kot 
prezimovali{~e teh ptic. Pritlikavi kormorani so bili 
po metodi {tetja na povr{ini v tem obmo~ju pre{teti v 
letih 1996, 2001, 2003 in 2004. Na obeh lokalitetah 
raziskovanega obmo~ja, na oto~ku Malo ratno ostrvo 
in na bregu reke Save, so imeli po~ivali{~e v mladem 
in razmeroma nizkem vrbovju Salix alba (visokem do 
7 m), v zna~ilnih zdru`bah (v zgodnji fazi sukcesije) 
na naplavinah ob reki in re~nih oto~kih. [tevilo 
osebkov, prezimujo~ih v Beogradu, najbr` iz leta v leto 
niha, ~eprav je jasno, da se je {tevilo 500 os. z za~etka 
devetdesetih let prej{njega stoletja pove~alo na 1080 
v februarju 1996 in na 1200 v januarju 2001. [tevilo 
pritlikavih kormoranov, ki se v na{em raziskovanem 
obmo~ju redno pojavlja v zimskem ~asu, presega 
1% populacijskega praga (400 osebkov) in skupaj s 
prezimujo~om {tevilom drugih vodnih vrst izpolnjuje 
kriterije, na osnovi katerih se obmo~je med Velikim 
ratnim ostrvom in Ado Ciganlijo lahko razglasi za 
ramsarsko obmo~je. Danes se v raziskovanem obmo~ju 
zadr`uje 12,5% v Srbiji in ^rni gori prezimujo~e 
populacije pritlikavega kormorana.
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Arrived / Prispelo: 15.12.2004
Accepted / Sprejeto: 9.5.2005
D.V. Simi} H & M. Tucakov: Numbers and local movements of Pygmy Cormorants Phalacrocorax pygmeus wintering in 
Belgrade