The Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) is a black fish-eating waterbird closely related to pelicans and can also plunge-dive for fish. The only cormorant in Costa Rica, it is often seen sitting on trees, posts, or rocks with the wings outspread in a choir-director pose. In sunlight the black plumage shows bluish-purple highlights. They have a long, pointed bill with a downturned hook and an agile neck, a bit similar to the anhinga.

Cormorants are a very ancient bird family, with similar ancestors reaching back to the time of the dinosaurs.