Swift And Deadly Fisher - The Cormorant

October 30, 2022 at 7:40 pm

The Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is a very large water bird, measuring between 77 and 94 cm in length, with a wingspan of 121 to 194 cm. Adult cormorants are almost entirely black, with only pale cheeks. Yellow bare skin can also be seen along the lower jaw.

In summer, the cormorant's feathers are shinier - the black-edged feathers on the wings take on a brownish, almost bronze sheen. The feathers on the body are more bluish-greenish and the cheeks become distinctly white. Young cormorants are paler in color, especially on the neck, and their bellies are mostly pure white.

Cormorants are often seen perched on trees, horns and rocks with their wings spread. This is when they dry their feathers, which have become wet while underwater hunting for fish. They have a poorly developed preen gland, which prevents them from impregnating their feathers well, which is a characteristic of other waterbirds.

The cormorant hunts mainly during the day. It is a fantastic diver and preys mainly on fish while diving. However, it does not shy away from amphibians and other snacks.

The cormorant often falls out of favor with fishermen and fish farmers, who still persecute it in some places. In fact, it also likes to eat in rivers and, if possible, even in fish farms.

In the picture above, you can see it swimming in a small lagoon on the North Adriatic coast, quietly surveying the surroundings and the action.