Great cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo · The great cormorant is a large seabird that breeds across much of the Old World, Australasia, and the Atlantic coast of North America.

Also called Great black cormorant, Black shag, Large cormorant, Black cormorant, Kawau.

Great cormorant
Photo: Laurens R. Krol, CC BY 4.0
Great cormorant
Photo: Photo by Laitche, CC BY-SA 4.0
Great cormorant
Photo: © Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderSuliformes
FamilyPhalacrocoracidae
GenusPhalacrocorax
SpeciesPhalacrocorax carbo

Where it lives

Coasts, lakes and rivers of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and eastern Canada.

Fun facts

  • Great cormorants can dive to depths of up to 9.5 metres while hunting for fish.
  • Their underwater fishing dives typically last between 1 and 3 minutes.
  • Its feet are fully webbed between all four toes, a trait called totipalmate.
  • Adult great cormorants have striking deep sea-green eyes, while juveniles have duller grey eyes.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).