
The Great Cormorant – Phalacrocorax carbo
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Class: Aves
- Order: Suliformes
- Family: Phalacrocoracidae
- Genre: Phalacrocorax
- Species: Phalacrocorax carbo
Identification characters
It is a large waterfowl with a body length of 77-94 cm and a wingspan of 121-149 cm. Weighs 1810-2810 g. The Great Cormorant can often be seen on rocks or other supports, with its wings spread out, like the Little Cormorant, to dry them in the sun, having no uropygial gland. The throat is long and thick. Compared to the Little Cormorant, it has a more elongated, triangular head profile with a strong beak. No sexual dimorphism. When swimming, the body is largely submerged, with the neck and raised beak visible at the surface. Adults have black plumage with blue and green iridescence. The wings have a bronze tinge with black scales. The skin at the base of the lower mandible is yellow, surrounded by white. A white patch on the thigh can be seen during the breeding season, but this disappears by July. In the colony it makes high, guttural sounds.