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Great Cormorant

(Phalacrocorax carbo)
Alternative names: "Black Cormorant", "Black Shag"
Size: 80-85 cm; wing span 1.3-1.5 m

Sightings

Great Cormorants were first spotted by us in Oman at Qurm Natural Park, near Muscat, in December 2009.

Previously spotted by us also in Australia.

Photos

Lateral view of adult birds

Small colony of Great Cormorants; the white-breasted and mottled birds are juveniles, adults are all-black

Adult bird at takeoff

Here two birds trying to gain altitude

In the foreground juvenile birds

Adult bird in low flight

Food

Like all other members of the Phalacrocorax family, Great Cormorants feed on fish.

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.