Types of Cormorants: A Birdwatcher’s Guide to Nature’s Aquatic Aces

Cormorants are a captivating group of waterbirds that have adapted remarkably well to aquatic life. Found on nearly every continent, these feathered fishers come in a surprising variety of shapes and sizes, each with its own unique charm and ecological role.

In this article, we’ll take a deeper dive into the types of cormorants that are most well-known and widely observed. Whether you’re an amateur birder or a seasoned enthusiast, understanding these birds’ traits, behaviours, and habitats will make your next encounter even more meaningful.

1. Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)

The Double-crested Cormorant is the most common cormorant species in North America. Named for the subtle tufts or “crests” that appear on both sides of its head during the breeding season, it’s a highly adaptable bird often seen perched on docks, trees, and rocks near water.

• Physical Traits: Adults are matte black with a slight greenish sheen, a long neck, and a yellow-orange throat patch. Juveniles are browner with lighter bellies.
• Diet: Mainly fish, but also crabs, amphibians, and occasionally insects.
• Behaviour: Known for its social nature, it often nests in large colonies, sometimes alongside herons or pelicans.
• Nesting Habits: Builds bulky nests in trees, on cliffs, or even artificial structures like channel markers.
• Interesting Fact: It has a unique flight pattern, flying low over the water with a slow, steady wingbeat, often in V-shaped flocks.

2. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

The Great Cormorant is one of the most widespread and robust cormorant species, found across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Atlantic coasts of North America. It’s revered in many cultures and has long been used in traditional fishing practices.

• Physical Traits: Large, heavy-bodied bird with glossy black plumage, a white chin patch, and striking green or blue eyes.
• Diet: Primarily fish, especially eels and flatfish, caught in shallow or deep water.
• Behaviour: Solitary hunters but social roosters; often seen sunbathing in iconic wing-spread poses.
• Nesting Habits: Nests in trees or on cliffs, usually in colonies; builds large stick nests reused for many years.
• Interesting Fact: In Japan and China, traditional fishermen once trained Great Cormorants using throat rings to prevent them from swallowing the fish they caught.

Also Read : 14 Birds That Look Like a Peacock

3. Brandt’s Cormorant (Urile penicillatus)

Brandt’s Cormorant is a Pacific Coast specialist, often spotted along the rocky shorelines and kelp forests of western North America. It is particularly striking during the breeding season.

• Physical Traits: Black body with a brilliant turquoise-blue throat pouch and fine white plumes on the head during breeding.
• Diet: Primarily small schooling fish such as anchovies, herring, and rockfish.
• Behaviour: Dives from the surface, often to moderate depths (30–40 metres), using powerful webbed feet for propulsion.
• Nesting Habits: Colonially nests on rocky islands and sea cliffs; nest sites are often reused annually.
• Interesting Fact: Males perform elaborate head movements and throat pouch displays to attract mates.

Also Read : Discover 11 Types of Hawks in Tennessee

4. Pelagic Cormorant (Urile pelagicus)

The Pelagic Cormorant is the smallest North American cormorant, well-adapted to rugged marine environments. True to its name, it favours deeper offshore waters, often where land meets sea in dramatic fashion.

• Physical Traits: Slender build, iridescent black-green plumage, red facial skin, and white flanks during breeding.
• Diet: Mostly fish such as sculpins and sand lance, as well as small crustaceans.
• Behaviour: More solitary than other cormorants; often seen diving alone near cliffs or rocky islets.
• Nesting Habits: Builds nests in crevices on steep sea cliffs, sometimes barely above the surf.
• Interesting Fact: Its streamlined body and narrow bill are perfectly adapted for navigating crevices in underwater rocks while hunting.

5. Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum)

The Neotropic Cormorant is a widespread species in warmer climates, often spotted inland around lakes, lagoons, and reservoirs. It’s smaller than most other cormorants and often confused with juveniles of other species.

• Physical Traits: Slender black body, long tail, and a small yellowish patch at the base of the bill. Adults often have a white fringe on the thigh during breeding.
• Diet: Primarily fish, supplemented by frogs and aquatic invertebrates.
• Behaviour: Frequently seen perched on branches, wires, or pilings in a distinctive upright posture.
• Nesting Habits: Builds nests in trees or shrubs near water, sometimes with herons or ibises.
• Interesting Fact: Unlike most cormorants, it often nests far from the coast and is highly adaptable to urban wetlands and man-made lakes.

Also Read : 14 Shorebirds of Florida and How to Identify Them

6. Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)

This small, bold-patterned species is widespread across Australasia and Southeast Asia. Its compact size and black-and-white plumage give it a distinctive look.

• Physical Traits: Black back and wings with a clean white face, chest, and underparts.
• Diet: Small fish, crustaceans, and insects.
• Behaviour: Forages alone or in small groups, usually on calm freshwater bodies.
• Nesting Habits: Often nests in large colonies with other waterbirds in trees overhanging water.
• Interesting Fact: Its small size allows it to manoeuvre easily in tight spaces and shallow water where larger species can’t hunt.

7. Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis)

A distinctive species native to the Indian subcontinent, the Indian Cormorant stands out with its sharply defined facial features and blue-green eyes.

• Physical Traits: Dark brown-black body, peaked crown, and blue-green eyes; lacks the throat patch seen in many other species.
• Diet: Mostly fish, including catfish and carp, often hunted in groups.
• Behaviour: Forms large flocks and often engages in coordinated feeding behaviour, herding fish into tight areas.
• Nesting Habits: Builds nests in trees or on submerged branches; breeding colonies can be dense and noisy.
• Interesting Fact: Also called the Indian Shag, it’s a highly vocal species, especially during nesting season.

Why Are Cormorants Important?

Cormorants are key players in aquatic ecosystems. As apex fish predators, they help maintain healthy fish populations and keep aquatic food chains in balance. Their presence can also indicate good water quality. Though fisheries have sometimes targeted them, studies show that their impact on commercial fish stocks is often minimal compared to environmental and human factors.

How to Spot Cormorants in the Wild

Want to add these feathered divers to your bird list? Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Check Near Water: Look around coastal cliffs, lakes, rivers, wetlands, and harbours.
• Look for Drying Poses: Cormorants are often seen with wings spread, especially on sunny days.
• Observe Their Hunting: Watch for diving and resurfacing behaviour, often with a wriggling fish in the bill.
• Listen for Colonies: Some species are surprisingly vocal during breeding season, especially in large nesting colonies.

Final Thoughts

Cormorants may not always be the flashiest birds, but their silent grace, underwater athleticism, and fascinating behaviours make them unforgettable once you get to know them. From the Neotropic Cormorant’s tropical elegance to the Pelagic’s rugged determination, each species has its own story and beauty.

So grab your binoculars, head to your nearest body of water, and see which type of cormorant you can spot today. Happy birding!