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| Cormorants and shags | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Little pied cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Subclass: | Neornithes |
| Infraclass: | Neoaves |
| Order: | Pelecaniformes |
| Suborder: | Sulae |
| Family: | Phalacrocoracidae Reichenbach, 1850 |
| Genus: | Phalacrocorax Brisson, 1760 |
Cormorants are a family of seabirds. There are about 40 different species of Cormorants. In some areas, they are also known as shags.
Cormorants range in size from as little as 45 cm (18 in) and 340 g (12 oz) to a maximum size 100 cm (40 in) and 5 kg (11 lbs). Most cormorants, including nearly all northern hemisphere species, have mainly dark feathers. Some southern hemisphere species are black and white. A few species are very colorful. Many species have areas of colored skin on the face. These areas can be bright blue, orange, red or yellow. They usually become more brightly colored in the breeding season. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet have webbing between all four toes. Cormorants can dive for 4 minutes looking for food.
Cormorants breed on rocky headlands and islands as well as near inland lakes, marshes and reservoirs. The birds spend the winter on coasts, estuaries, rivers, lakes and reservoirs.
Great cormorant with hooked bill
Imperial shags in Beagle Channel
Three cormorants sitting high on a tree by the River Medway in Kent, England
Immature Phalacrocorax atriceps albiventer
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Guanay cormorant (Phalacrocorax bougainvillii) at Weltvogelpark Walsrode
Little cormorant, Microcarbo niger
The double-crested cormorant's crests are normally not visible
Guanay cormorant, Leucocarbo bougainvillii
Brandt's cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) – crestless, but with ornamental plumes
Little black cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Great cormorant drying its wings
Double-crested cormorant
A Chinese fisherman with his two cormorants
Cormorants catching Fish. Hanging silk scroll by Yūhi, Middle Edo period, Japan, 1755
