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
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

Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Aerial

Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.

Filter Feeder

Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water.

Piscivorous

Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.

Ancient Lineage

This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

Also known as

Black CormorantLarge Cormorant

Collections

Birds

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Great Cormorant?

Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How long is Great Cormorant?

70-102 cm

What is Great Cormorant's wingspan?

121-160 cm

How much does Great Cormorant weigh?

1.5-5.3 kg

How long does Great Cormorant live?

10-20 years

How fast can Great Cormorant move?

55 km/h

What does Great Cormorant eat?

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