Great Cormorant

The great cormorant is a large cormorant, tied with the Japanese cormorant as the second largest living species after the flightless cormorant. Size varies widely across its range: it is 70–102cm long with a wingspan of 121–160cm, and weights from 1.5 to 5.3kg have been reported, with males larger than females. The nominate subspecies averages about 10% larger than the subspecies sinensis. It is known by many local names, including black shag in New Zealand and large cormorant in India. Six subspecies are accepted (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is a very common and widespread bird that feeds at sea in inshore waters, in estuaries and on freshwater lakes and rivers. Northern birds migrate south to escape frozen waters, moving to any unfrozen coast or lake well stocked with fish, while birds in warmer areas disperse locally. The Japanese cormorant is so closely related that genetic evidence suggests it may belong within this species. SoIB 2023 lists it as resident and a winter migrant in India with a very large range, finds its current trend stable, and rates it a Low conservation priority (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).