This seabird exhibits considerable versatility in habitat preference, with some populations thriving in the saline environments of the North Atlantic, while others are more commonly found in freshwater lakes and rivers across the globe.
These large, solidly built birds are characterized by their dark plumage, long necks, and hooked bills, designed for an aquatic lifestyle centered around fishing. Great Cormorants are highly skilled in underwater hunting, using their webbed feet to propel themselves and their tail as a rudder, allowing for agile pursuit of prey beneath the water’s surface. They can dive to considerable depths and remain underwater for up to a minute, though their usual dives last only around 20-30 seconds.
Cormorants have been observed to forage alone or in groups, and their gregarious nature extends to their breeding habits. They nest in colonies that can number in the hundreds, sometimes even thousands, choosing cliff faces, trees, or ground sites near water to build their bulky nests made of sticks and seaweed. These nesting colonies become bustling communities, with each pair vigorously defending their immediate nesting area.
The Great Cormorant’s diet is predominantly fish, and their fishing efficiency has made them the subject of both admiration and conflict with humans. In some parts of Asia, especially China and Japan, fishermen have trained cormorants for centuries to catch fish, a practice known as cormorant fishing. The birds are fitted with a ring around their neck to prevent them from swallowing larger fish, which the fisherman retrieves.
In modern times, however, the Great Cormorant often conflicts with commercial and recreational fishing interests, as they are sometimes perceived to be resource competitors. This has led to persecution in some areas, and managing cormorant populations remains contentious.
Distribution
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bosnia And Herz.
Botswana
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Chad
China
Christmas Island
Congo-Brazzaville
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Denmark
Egypt
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Guam
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malawi
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritania
Micronesia
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norfolk Island
Nort. Mariana Is.
North Korea
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Pierre
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
UAE
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
