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Great CormorantAlternate name(s): "Black Cormorant", "Black Shag", "Large Black Cormorant", "Great Black Cormorant" ![]() Size: 70-102 cm; wingspan: 1.2-1.6 m Weight: 1.2-3.0 kg |
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Similar species |
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Photos |
Race "carbo"
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
First-year Great Cormorants on a rock (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]
Race "sinensis"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
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BREEDING |
Lateral view of a Great Cormorant breeding
plumage
with nuptial flush; note the white
thigh patches, the white neck, nuchal tuft, orange/bronze
facial skin and the spots around the eye-ring
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, February 2018]
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NON-BREEDING |
Close-up near-frontal view of an adult Great Cormorant
with a juvenile behind (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]
Lateral view of a Great Cormorant
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, February 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a Great Cormorant drying its
plumage
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, Schierstein, Rheingau, Germany, March 2013]
Dorsal view of a Great Cormorant drying its
plumage
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, Schierstein, Rheingau, Germany, March 2013]
Flock of Great Cormorants roosting on a sandbank
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, February 2017]
Overview of a small group of Great Cormorants
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Fehmarn, Germany, January 2015]
Comparison between 2 Great Cormorants, right, in non-breeding
plumage with five
European Shags,
left to centre
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal]
Great Cormorants in non-breeding
plumage
in comparison with a
Great [White] Egret
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Santa Justa, Coruche, Portugal, November 2018]
Frontal view of a Great Cormorant landing on water
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2013]
Lateral view of a Great Cormorant in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, January 2018]
Small flock of Great Cormorants in flight
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2019]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Close-up near-frontal view of an adult Great Cormorant
with a juvenile behind (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]
Adult Great Cormorant, front left, with a juvenile behind and a
first-year immature bird, front right, all in comparison with a
Grey Heron
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]
First-year immature Great Cormorants with a juvenile, front
centre, and behind it a non-breeding adult
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, September 2019]
Dorsal view of a first-year Great Cormorant drying its
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo river, Trafaria, Almada, Portugal, February 2014]
Near-frontal to near-lateral view of juvenile Great Cormorants
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, March 2018]
Lateral view of a juvenile Great Cormorant
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Skagen, Jütland, Denmark, September 2019]
Dorsal view of a juvenile Great Cormorant; the greyish-brown
front of the neck shows that this bird is still young
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]
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Additional information |
More photos of Great Cormorants, race "sinensis", were taken by us in Oman.
Race "carboides"
Photos of Great Cormorants, race "carboides", were taken by us in Australia.
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Behaviour |
Small flock of Great Cormorants preparing to hunt fish collectively
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Lake Dlugie Wigierskie, Wigry NP, Masurias, Poland, August 2017]
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Food, Diet |
Great Cormorant with its catch, a fish
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2014]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
grtcorm_20170701.m4a |
carboides (NW NSW) |
Arrival | © MD | |
grtcorm_dw_20170815.m4a |
sinensis (Poland) |
? (flock) | © DW | |
grtcorm_dw_20170815_1.m4a |
sinensis (Poland) |
? (flock) | © DW |