Cormorants

Cormorants are sleek black waterbirds found all over the world. They are excellent swimmers and catch fish by diving underwater. Cormorants have long necks, hooked beaks, and webbed feet. After swimming, they stand with their wings spread out wide to dry them in the sun. This is a very common sight near lakes, rivers, and the ocean.

Amazing Divers

Cormorants can dive down over 100 feet to catch fish. They use their webbed feet to push themselves through the water like torpedoes. They can hold their breath for more than a minute. Their eyes can see clearly underwater, which helps them spot fish. Their hooked beaks are perfect for grabbing slippery meals.

Wet Wings

Most waterbirds have oily feathers that keep them dry. But cormorant feathers are not very waterproof. This lets water soak in and makes the bird less floaty, so it can dive deeper. After fishing, cormorants need to dry off. They stand on rocks or branches with wings spread open like a big black cape.

Working with People

In some parts of Asia, fishermen have trained cormorants to help them catch fish. The fisherman ties a loose string around the bird's neck. The cormorant dives for fish but cannot swallow the big ones. It brings the fish back to the boat. This old way of fishing has been used for over a thousand years in China and Japan.

Fun Facts

• There are about 40 different kinds of cormorants around the world.
• Some cormorants can stay underwater for over 90 seconds.
• The flightless cormorant of the Galapagos Islands cannot fly at all.

Did You Know?

Baby cormorants cannot swim right away and have to wait a few weeks before they learn to dive like their parents.