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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.

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 .

The global distribution of the Great Cormorant is available HERE .

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.

Where to look? How to find this species?

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.

Race "sinensis"

Race "carboides"