Species group · Birds
Cormorants
WAnimals has 13 species of cormorant, in the family Phalacrocoracidae.
- 13 species
- 1 family
- 104 countries
- 185 parks
- Weight
- 400 g – 5 kg
- Length
- 45 cm – 1 m
- Lifespan
- 12 – 22 years
Ranges calculated from the profiles that record the figure, not from all 13.
All 13 species of cormorants on WAnimals
Each one has its own full profile. This group does not replace them: it brings them together.
Least ConcernGreat Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
49 countries4 parks3 dive sites
Least ConcernEuropean Shag
Phalacrocorax aristotelis
39 countries5 parks2 dive sites
Least ConcernImperial Shag
Leucocarbo atriceps
7 countries5 parks2 dive sites
Least ConcernLong-tailed Cormorant
Microcarbo africanus
14 countries46 parks1 dive site
Near ThreatenedGuanay Cormorant
Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum
2 countries4 parks2 dive sites
Least ConcernPygmy Cormorant
Microcarbo pygmaeus
15 countries14 parks
VulnerableSocotra Cormorant
Phalacrocorax nigrogularis
11 countries3 parks
Least ConcernRock Shag
Leucocarbo magellanicus
2 countries1 park1 dive site
Least Concern
Double-crested Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus
6 countries53 parks
Least Concern
Great Pied Cormorant
Phalacrocorax varius
4 countries49 parks
Least Concern
Brandt's Cormorant
Phalacrocorax penicillatus
3 countries13 parks
Least Concern
Spotted Shag
Phalacrocorax punctatus
1 country16 parks
Vulnerable
Flightless Cormorant
Nannopterum harrisi
1 country1 park
Conservation status
10 Least Concern2 Vulnerable1 Near Threatened
2 species in this group are in a threatened category according to the IUCN.
Where they live
Recorded in 104 countries. The ones with the most species in the group:
Where to see them
- Abel Tasman2 species
- Aoraki/Mount Cook2 species
- Apostle Islands2 species
- Arthur's Pass2 species
- Cabo Pulmo2 species
- Channel Islands2 species
- Egmont/Taranaki2 species
- Fiordland2 species
- Glacier Bay2 species
- Gulf Islands2 species
- Gwaii Haanas2 species
- Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California2 species
- Puerto Deseado (penguins)diving
- Ballestas Islandsdiving
- Berlengas Islandsdiving
- Cíes Islandsdiving
- Gdańsk (Baltic wrecks)diving
- Lake Malawi (cichlids)diving
Did you know…?
Its feathers are not fully waterproof, which reduces its buoyancy and makes diving easier, but obliges it afterwards to spread its wings in the sun to dry.
From Great Cormorant
Its plumage is not fully waterproof, so it has to dry its wings in the sun after fishing.
From European Shag
It takes bottom-dwelling fish by diving actively, propelled by its feet.
From European Shag
It grows a black crest on its head only during the breeding season.
From European Shag
It dives to more than sixty metres and stays under for as long as five minutes, extraordinary figures for a bird whose plumage is not waterproof and which comes out of the water soaked.
From Imperial Shag
Its plumage does not repel water, and that apparent disadvantage is in fact useful: by trapping no air, the bird is less buoyant and dives with far less effort.
From Imperial Shag
It is the smallest cormorant in Africa and the one most tied to vegetated fresh water: it fishes among the papyrus and reeds rather than in open water, a niche its larger relatives do not occupy.
It breeds in mixed colonies with herons, night herons and spoonbills, taking advantage of the collective watch against raptors.