Phalacrocorax carbo
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Mass
~3 kg
Habitat
Wetlands and marshes
Diet
Fish and aquatic animals
How to recognize it
The Great Cormorant has a large, dark, stripped-down look, with a long neck and a hooked bill. Its habit of standing upright and looking ready to dive makes it easy to notice even at a distance.
Away from the colony it is quiet, but near the nest it turns noisy and rough-voiced. On land it moves with a heavy waddle, yet in water it is in its element, swimming and diving well; after feeding, it often sits with wings held open to dry.
It lives along coasts and inland waters, usually in colonies. It feeds mainly on fish caught underwater, and northern populations move south in winter to unfrozen waters.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The Great Cormorant has a large, dark, stripped-down look, with a long neck and a hooked bill. Its habit of standing upright and looking ready to dive makes it easy to notice even at a distance.
Away from the colony it is quiet, but near the nest it turns noisy and rough-voiced. On land it moves with a heavy waddle, yet in water it is in its element, swimming and diving well; after feeding, it often sits with wings held open to dry.
It lives along coasts and inland waters, usually in colonies. It feeds mainly on fish caught underwater, and northern populations move south in winter to unfrozen waters.
