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Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
2 photos
·1 photographer
·Uncommon · 10 ptsLarge black waterbird; spreads wings to dry; excellent diver.
2 community photos of Cormorant on Things With Wings. Top-rated shots often use around 1/250ss shutter, 300mm.
Species Profile
Green List (UK); Least Concern (IUCN)
- Lifespan
- 15–20 years in the wild, with some individuals recorded living over 25 years
- Size & Weight
- 70–100 cm long, wingspan 121–149 cm; 2.0–3.5 kg
- Habitat
- Coastal waters, estuaries, large inland lakes, and reservoirs where fish are abundant.
- UK Distribution
- Found around all UK coasts and major inland waterways; resident year-round with populations augmented by continental migrants in winter, particularly from November to March.
- Diet
- Almost exclusively fish, including sea bass, flatfish, eels, trout, pike, and perch, consuming 300–400 g daily.
- Prey
- Fish species including sea bass, mullet, flatfish, eels, trout, pike, dace, and perch
- Predators
- Chicks and eggs vulnerable to gulls, corvids, and foxes; adults have few natural predators but are occasionally taken by white-tailed eagles.
- Mating Season
- March to July, with peak breeding April to May
- Breeding
- Clutch of 3–4 eggs, incubation period 28–31 days, fledging at 48–50 days; typically one brood per year, though re-laying occurs after egg loss.
Sources and editorial status
The short identification summary comes from the Things With Wings species catalogue. The extended species profile is AI-assisted and has not been individually reviewed by a wildlife expert, so verify important identification or conservation details with the specialist sources below.
Profile generated 24 June 2026
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Camera Settings (top photos)
Shutter
1/250ss
ISO Range
800–1600
Aperture
f/f/5.6
Focal Length
300mm
