Key information
A large, black, and conspicuous waterbird, the cormorant has an almost primitive appearance with its long neck making it appear reptilian. It is often seen standing with its wings held out to dry. Regarded by some as sinister and greedy, cormorants are supreme fishers which can bring them into conflict with anglers, thus causing them to be persecuted in the past. The UK holds internationally significant wintering numbers.
What they eat:
Fish
Measurements:
- Length:
- 80-100cm
- Wingspan:
- 130-160cm
- Weight:
- 2.1-2.5kg
Population:
- UK breeding:
- 9,018 pairs
- UK wintering:
- 41,000 birds
Identifying features:
This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season.
Cormorant (adult)
Cormorant (juvenile)
Similar birds:
There are two species of the cormorant family which occur in the UK: the cormorant and the shag. They can be tricky to tell apart, especially in the case of young birds.
The cormorant has a stouter, more powerful beak than the shag. The angle of its forehead where it joins the beak is shallower and the yellow skin around the face is more extensive. Cormorants can be found either on the coast or at inland waters, where there are some large breeding colonies.
Shags are birds of the coast. Occasionally, they turn up inland along rivers and lakes, but usually alone (cormorants are often seen in groups inland). The shag's beak is more delicate in comparison to the cormorant's and the forehead angle is steeper. Young birds sometimes show the hint of the adult bird's crest.
