Great Cormorant

The Great Cormorant is the largest and most widely distributed cormorant species, found across coasts, lakes, and rivers throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and even parts of eastern North America. It is a powerful, adaptable waterbird able to exploit both marine and freshwater environments.

Appearance

Adults are largely black with a bronze-green iridescent sheen, a distinctive white patch on the throat and chin, and yellow-orange facial skin. Breeding adults also develop a conspicuous white patch on the thigh and scattered white filoplumes on the head and neck.

Key field marks

• Large size, the biggest widespread cormorant across much of its range
• Glossy black plumage with a bronze-green sheen
• White chin and throat patch
• White thigh patch in breeding adults
• Heavy build and thick neck compared to smaller cormorant species

Similar species

Where ranges overlap with smaller cormorants and shags, the Great Cormorant is distinguished by its larger size, heavier bill, and the combination of a white throat patch with (in season) a white thigh patch.

Habitat and range

Great Cormorants occupy an enormous range across the Old World, from coastal cliffs and estuaries to inland lakes and rivers, found throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, with a distinct population also breeding in eastern North America. They are highly adaptable, occupying both marine and freshwater habitats.

Northern populations are migratory, moving to milder coasts and wetlands in winter, while populations in warmer regions tend to be more sedentary.

Behavior

Great Cormorants forage by diving from the surface and pursuing fish underwater with powerful propulsion from their feet, often hunting in relatively shallow water. Like other cormorants, they frequently perch with wings spread to dry their partially wettable plumage.

Voice

They are mostly silent away from breeding colonies, giving deep guttural croaks and grunts near nests.

Nesting and breeding

Great Cormorants nest colonially on cliffs, in trees, or on the ground on predator-free islands, building bulky stick nests. They typically lay three to four eggs, and colonies can be large where suitable sites and abundant fish are available.