Great Cormorant

seabird · diving · ocean hunter

Expert underwater hunter. Great cormorants dive deep below the water's surface to catch fish in their sharp, hooked beaks. They can stay underwater for up to a minute while searching for their meal.

Waterlogged feathers. Unlike many seabirds, great cormorants have feathers that soak up water instead of staying dry and fluffy. This helps them dive deeper and stay submerged longer to hunt.

Found almost everywhere. Great cormorants live across the Northern Hemisphere, Australasia, and even the Atlantic coast of North America. Different countries call them different names, like shag in New Zealand or kawau.

Colonial nesters. These birds gather in large groups to build stick nests in trees or on cliffs near water. Thousands of them might live together in the same breeding colony.

Shiny black appearance. Great cormorants are covered in glossy black feathers that shimmer in the sunlight. They have long, curved necks that help them reach into the water while diving.