Home Animals A-Z
Animals A-Z >  Great Cormorant
Image of Great Cormorant
Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo, the Great Cormorant, captivates with its mastery in diving and fishing in diverse waters. Its wing-drying pose and iridescent eyes highlight its adaptability and beauty, playing a vital role as a top predator in aquatic ecosystems.

10-20 years
Lifespan
Least Concern
Conservation Status
Increasing
Population Trend
Distribution Range of the Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo, commonly known as the Great Cormorant, is native to a wide range of regions across the world. It is found in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and North America. The species is prevalent from Iceland and across Eurasia to China and India, and extends down into sub-Saharan Africa, Australia, and along the east coast of North America.
Great Cormorant's Habitat
Environmental Conditions
The Great Cormorant prefers habitats near large water bodies such as lakes, rivers, estuaries, and coastlines. It typically inhabits areas with open water suitable for fishing. The climate in these regions can vary significantly from temperate and oceanic climates in Europe to subtropical and tropical climates in Africa and Australia.
Ecological Niche
As a piscivorous bird, the Great Cormorant occupies the ecological niche of a top predator in aquatic ecosystems. It is well-adapted to diving and catching fish underwater, and its presence often indicates healthy fish populations. In some regions, variations in habitat can occur due to the presence of subspecies, such as the P. c. sinensis in Asia, which tends to prefer inland freshwater habitats compared to other subspecies that may inhabit coastal regions.