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Great Cormorant
(Phalacrocorax carbo)
: "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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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Great Cormorants are large cormorants (details of their size
and weight depend on race; birds of nominate race "carbo"
found in north-eastern Canada are the biggest and heaviest,
while birds found in central Europe and Arabia, of race
"sinensis",
are the smallest and lightest).
During the
breeding
season Great Cormorants have white
nuptial plumes on their hindneck, white cheeks and chin and a
white thigh patch.
These are absent in
eclipse.
The tail feathers are long and black.
Their irises are turquoise; the bill is grey, legs and feet are
dark-grey.
Juvenile
Great Cormorants have a grey front.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Great
Cormorant at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the Great Cormorant is available
HERE
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There are several races of Great Cormorant that altogether have
a very wide-ranging distribution.
They are present in most of Europe (except large parts of Scandinavia),
in parts of Marocco, Tunisia, Asia Minor, the coastline of much of
the Middle East, parts of southern and mid-latitude Asia, including
Japan and Taiwan, the river Nile valley and parts of eastern Africa,
coastal Arabia and the East coast of North America.
There is also a separate population in Australia, New Zealand and
parts of New Guinea (for details see, e.g.,
Wikipedia).
In Arabia Great Cormorants, race
"sinensis",
are found mostly as winter visitors along the coastal fringe. They
are most common along the North coast, from Kuwait via Saudi Arabia
and the UAE into northern Oman.
Great Cormorants can be found in any type of aquatic habitat (both
fresh water and saline), from the open sea and estuaries to rivers,
freshwater lakes and large dams.
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Where to look? How to find
this species? |
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It is important for all birds spending a lot of time under water,
such as cormorants, to dry
and seal their plumage.
They will often be seen on perches near the water's edge, such as rocks,
dead branches, poles or lamp posts, drying their
plumage with extended
wings.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "sinensis"
Great Cormorants, race
"sinensis",
were first spotted by us in Oman at Qurm Natural Park, near Muscat, in
December 2009.
Race "carboides"
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Photos |
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Race "sinensis"
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ADULT |
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NON-BREEDING |
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Lateral view of adult Great Cormorants in non-breeding
plumage
[Qurm Natural Park, Qurm, December 2009]
Small colony of Great Cormorants; the white-breasted and mottled
birds are juveniles, adults are all-black
[Qurm Natural Park, Qurm, December 2009]
Adult Great Cormorant in non-breeding
plumage
at takeoff
[Qurm Natural Park, Qurm, December 2009]
Two Great Cormorants in non-breeding
plumage
trying to gain altitude
[Qurm Natural Park, Qurm, December 2009]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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In the foreground juvenile Great Cormorants; note the grey front
[Qurm Natural Park, Qurm, December 2009]
Juvenile Great Cormorant in low flight
[Qurm Natural Park, Qurm, December 2009]
Race "carboides"
Photos of race
"carboides"
were obtained by us in
Australia.
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Food, Diet |
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Like almost all other members of the Phalacrocorax family, Great
Cormorants feed on fish.
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Call(s)/Song |
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For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own; are welcome.
We will try to replace this poor recording with a better one as
soon as possible.
More Great Cormorant sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
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These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.