Diet is mainly fruit (such as wild figs and berries), flowers and buds, leaves, termites and snails. Its habitat is dry open savanna woodlands, farms, parks, and suburban gardens, often near water.

This is a common and widespread species, and is not considered to be threatened. It breeds on freshwater wetlands or quiet coasts. Two to four eggs are laid in a nest in a tree or on the ground.

This is a small cormorant at 50–55 cm length and an 85 cm wingspan. It is mainly black, glossed green, in the breeding season. The wing coverts are silvery. It has a longish tail, a short head crest and a red or yellow face patch. The bill is yellow.

Sexes are similar, but non-breeding adults and juveniles are browner, with a white belly. Some southern races retain the crest all year round.

The Reed Cormorant can dive to considerable depths, but usually feeds in shallow water. It frequently brings prey to the surface. It takes a wide variety of fish. It prefers small slow-moving fishes, and those with long and tapering shapes, such asmormyrids, catfishes, and cichlids. It will less frequently eat soles (which can be important in its diet locally), frogs, aquatic invertebrates, and small birds.

This weaver is very widespread and found in a wide range of habitats, including shrubland, savanna, grassland, open woodland, inland wetlands and semi-desert areas. It also occurs in suburban gardens and parks