Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...

Cormorants, Shags

The Phalacrocoracidae family, commonly known as cormorants and shags, consists of around 40 aquatic bird species. They have a global distribution, with the great cormorant and the common shag being the most common species in Britain and Ireland. These birds possess dark plumage, long hook-tipped bills, and webbed feet, which contribute to their expert diving and underwater hunting abilities—sometimes reaching depths of 45 meters. Cormorants consume mostly fish and have high energy demands for flight due to their relatively short wings. They are social birds, nesting in colonies near shores, trees, and cliffs, and their ancestral origins point to freshwater habitats. The various species of cormorants and shags differ in size, plumage color, and facial skin coloration, and while there's no consistent distinction between the two, "cormorant" often refers to the larger species. The taxonomy of these birds has been debated, but in 2021 a consensus of seven genera was adopted by the international community. Finally, cormorant fishing—a tradition where cormorants catch fish and return them to fishermen—has been practiced for centuries in places like China, Japan, and Macedonia, although it is not as common now due to modern fishing methods. Cormorants also hold a significant place in human culture and symbolism, ranging from an emblem of greed in literature to avian representatives in heraldry and coats of arms.

Regions

A photo of a Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo
A photo of a Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus)

Pygmy Cormorant

Microcarbo pygmaeus
A photo of a Reed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus)

Reed Cormorant

Microcarbo africanus
A photo of a Shag (Gulosus aristotelis)

Shag

Gulosus aristotelis
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.
1
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Species Categories

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Emcil24
A Friendly Place
I love using the bird app, I have a pretty good knowledge of birds. But I do have some gaps in it, so it’s nice to have a safe space to check on a sighting to confirm the species. It’s really enjoyable and I love the badges you can collect. It’s like a real life Pokémon go.
BCHphotography_
Such a great app!
I didn’t think I could enjoy birding more but this app makes it so much better. Some great features and a really great way to share your sightings with your friends or fellow birders nearby or around the world! ❤️
Foxgirl100
Great app for beginner twitchers
I’ve had a passion of photographing birds for a long time now but have only just gotten into proper birdwatching, and this app is brilliant for those just getting started. There is a great sense of community among users and the app is very easy to use and professional. Awesome app altogether
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
Chudbond
Love Birda
I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.
Dan R
Great app for bird fanatics
Great app for bird fanatics - very user friendly and a perfect place to share sightings.
Trevarthen1
Birda fan
I really enjoy using Birda, all sightings are recorded and photos can be added. There are monthly challenges which help to get you out to record your sightings. The Birda community are great and are happy to help with unidentified bird sightings. Suitable for all ages and experience!
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.