These prehistoric-looking birds are highly efficient fishermen. Cormorants have become an increasingly common sight along inland lakes, reservoirs, canals, and rivers in the UK.
Cormorant feathers aren't waterproof, so they often hold their wings out to dry.
Cormorant facts
Scientific name: Phalacrocorax carbo
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Diet: Fish
Predators: Cormorants have no natural predators in the UK
Size: 80-100cm with a 130-160cm wingspan
Weight: 2-2.5kg
Lifespan: 11 years
About cormorants
There are two subspecies of cormorants in the UK: the coastal-nesting type and Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis, which nest on inland waterways.
In the last 30 years, we've seen a substantial increase in the number of cormorants found on our coasts, estuaries, canals, and rivers.
Cormorants and our canals
Today, the cormorant is likely more common and widespread in Europe than at any time in the last 150 years. While they're coastal birds, some have colonised our inland waters, which provide excellent fishing grounds. Take a walk along our canals, rivers, or a reservoir, and you'll likely spot a cormorant.
Cormorants are surprisingly large birds with black, shiny feathers and a white patch on the thigh throughout the summer breeding season. With long necks and hooked bills, they look primitive and reptilian in appearance. Young cormorants are dark brown.
Cormorants are commonly spotted standing with their wings outstretched on rocks, posts, or trees. They hold this strong stance because their oily plumage is only partially waterproof. After diving for fish, they have to hold their wings out to dry.
A large bird with brown-black sleek feathers, a long neck, and a hooked, orange beak, perching on a branch.
What do cormorants eat?
Cormorants feed on fish. Often hunting in groups, they catch prey with long hooked bills when underwater. They take a little leap before diving and swim low in the water with their heads tipped up.
Did you know that communities historically used cormorants to fish? With a ring fitted loosely around their necks to stop them from swallowing larger fish, anglers could take advantage of the cormorant's highly effective skills.
How do cormorants breed?
Cormorants breed in colonies, sometimes building their nests on the ground. When courting, the male cormorant waves his long neck while the female bends her neck over her back.
They lay one brood a year of two to four chalky blue eggs in mid-to-late February. Both parents incubate the eggs. Most chicks leave the nest after five weeks, but nearly half might die in their first year of starvation and exhaustion.
Where do cormorants live?
Cormorants tend to build their nests in colonies in trees surrounding bodies of water. Around more coastal areas, they nest on low cliffs. You can often see cormorants perched on a rock or bank with their wings outstretched. They're particularly common around estuaries and major lowland river systems.
These water birds are highly adaptable but can be very faithful to their territories.
Walk along our canals, rivers, or reservoirs, and you might see a cormorant. They're widespread throughout the UK.
How to tell the difference between a cormorant and a shag
Cormorants and shags are similar, closely related birds and are frequently mistaken for each other. Cormorants are bigger birds with black feathers and white patches in the breeding season.
Shags, however, are slender with no white parts. Shags have black plumage with a green gloss and purple-tinged wings. They also have smaller heads with a peaked forehead, sporting a tufted crest in the breeding season.
