Animal Profiles
Birds

Cormorant

Phalacrocoracidae

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Cormorants are fish-eating diving birds. This account describes the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), a widespread species of coasts, estuaries and large inland waters.

Phalacrocorax carbo (cormorant)

Representative species: Phalacrocorax carbo.

MPF · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Coasts and large fresh waters across several continents.
Habitat
Coast, Rivers and lakes
Diet
Piscivore
Food
Primarily fish, with occasional crustaceans.

Classification

Common name
Cormorant
Browse group
Birds
Scientific name or taxon
Phalacrocoracidae
Taxon rank
family
Order
Suliformes
Family
Phalacrocoracidae
Source classification
Aves

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It pursues fish underwater.
  • Adults develop white patches during breeding.
  • Salt glands help it cope with seawater.

Habitat and range

Great cormorants inhabit coasts, lakes and rivers across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and northeastern North America. North American birds are especially associated with marine shores; inland waters are also important in Eurasia.

Appearance and adaptations

A long neck and dark, glossy body give the bird a distinctive swimming outline. Breeding adults develop extra white plumage around the head and on the thighs.

Diet and behaviour

Fish are pursued underwater using vision. Small catches may be swallowed below the surface, while larger ones are brought up. Birds can forage alone or in groups, and northern populations may move seasonally to milder waters.

Sources

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