Cormorant

 

A video of a Cormorant diving underwater to catch fish, it was very successful!

Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) have dark feathers with a metallic blue-green sheen and a hooked beak adapted for catching fish. They have an eerie deep green eye, which, unusually, they can rotate. Unlike other birds, their feathers are not coated in protective, waterproof oils, which is why they are often seen standing with wings outstretched to dry off (an impressive sight as they have a wingspan of 130-160 cm). Cormorants weigh over 2 kg and can live over 20 years.

The UK hosts internationally-important numbers of Cormorants, with approximately 9000 breeding pairs and over 40,000 wintering birds.

Cormorant differ from Shags as they have a patch of bare skin around the beak and eye (see arrow above), whereas Shags have feathers right up to the beak.

Cormorants can be easily confused with the European Shag (Gulosus aristotelis). As well as the differences outlined above, Shags are smaller than Cormorants and are usually only found in coastal areas, whereas Cormorants can be found inland too, like on the UEA lake!

The UK population is made up of 2 subspecies. Phalacrocorax carbo carbo is mostly found in coastal areas, and Phalacrocorax carbo sinesis colonised from continental Europe and is found at inland water bodies, so is likely the subspecies you can spot at UEA.

Cormorants are known by different names across the UK: 'Mulfran' in Welsh, 'Sgarbh' in Gaelic, and 'Broigheall' in Irish.


All photos/ videos are my own. For more information/ references please visit:

Cormorant Or Shag | Bird Spot

Cormorant Bird Facts | Phalacrocorax Carbo (rspb.org.uk)

Phalacrocorax carbo : Cormorant | NBN Atlas

Cormorant | BTO - British Trust for Ornithology

Cormorant | The Wildlife Trusts

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