ExploreBird

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

The Great Cormorant is a large bird that loves to dive deep for fish! It has a long neck and can often be seen drying its wings in the sun.

Habitat: Coastal areas and lakes

Appearance

The Great Cormorant is a large, dark water bird with a sleek, glossy black body and a distinctive hooked bill. During breeding season, it often sports white patches on its head and flanks, setting it apart from other similar dark waterfowl.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderSuliformesFamilyPhalacrocoracidaeGenusPhalacrocorax

Great Cormorant

Interesting facts

Cormorants can dive over 200 feet deep to catch fish!

These birds spread their wings after diving, like sunbathing, to dry their feathers!

They have a special gland to remove salt from the seawater they drink!

They've been used for fishing by humans for thousands of years in Asia!

Special abilities

Great Cormorants can get their feathers waterlogged because it helps them sink quickly and dive deep to hunt fish.

Great Cormorants have excellent underwater vision that helps them spot and catch fast-moving prey in murky depths.

Great Cormorants can spread their wings wide because it helps them dry their feathers quickly after a long fishing session.

Measurements & details

Length: 70-102 cm
Wingspan: 121-160 cm
Weight: 1.5-5.3 kg
Lifespan: 10-20 years
Top Speed: 55 km/h
Clutch Size: 3-5
Incubation: 27-30 days
Migration Distance: 1500 km

Diet & Feeding

These expert divers mainly eat fish, catching them underwater with their sharp, hooked bills!

Age differences: Young cormorants are fed regurgitated fish by parents and gradually learn to hunt for themselves.

Primary Foods

eels
perch
carp
sticklebacks

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

European Eel

Anguilla anguilla

a common and important prey species in its diet.

hunts

European Perch

Perca fluviatilis

frequently caught in freshwater lakes and rivers.

hunts

Common Carp

Cyprinus carpio

often targeted due to its abundance in many water bodies.

eaten by

White-tailed Eagle

Haliaeetus albicilla

adults and young can be preyed upon by this large raptor.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Feathered

These are animals covered in soft, beautiful feathers that help them fly, stay warm, and even attract mates! Think of all the amazing birds you know.

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Aerial

Discover amazing creatures that spend much of their lives soaring high above the ground, often using wings to fly! They might hunt, travel, or even sleep up in the sky.

Filter Feeder

Discover amazing animals that filter their food right from the water! They have special ways to strain tiny bits of plants or other creatures to eat.

Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Ancient Lineage

These fascinating organisms carry echoes of the deep past, with ancestors that have roamed the Earth for an incredible span of time. They are living links to ancient worlds!

Coastal

Discover life found along the edges where land meets the sea! These habitats are always changing with the tides and waves, offering unique environments.