The cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), a large water bird, has a long neck, giving it something of a primitive, reptilian appearance. Adults are black with a bluish or green sheen. At the base of the bill is an area of bare, yellow skin surrounded by white. During the breeding season there is a white patch on the thigh, and throughout the year a variable amount of white occurs on the crown and back of the neck. Juveniles are dark brown and have a white area on the underparts. A variety of deep vocalizations are produced in colonies. The name cormorant is derived from the Latin 'Corvus Marinus', which means 'sea crow' Ever seen a V-shaped flock of blackbirds flying purposefully in the sky near a water body? Or a blackbird sitting still with its wings spread out in a small village pond? Or a bird’s head sticking out of the water at a lake or pond? Did you notice any large colonies of blackbirds nesting on tall trees by a wetland? These were all probably cormorants!  While Little Cormorants may usually be seen feeding singly or in small groups, larger congregations and loose flocks are also seen in bigger waterbodies. Breeds along rocky maritime coasts, nesting on cliff ledges or rocky islands free of predators and feeding in sheltered inshore waters.  Cormorants and shags are very gregarious and form huge breeding colonies on coastal cliffs and islets. They roost in large flocks and perform sometimes collective fishing at abundant food sources. They can be seen on exposed perches with spread wings and tail, drying their plumage after some pursuit-diving. This is a cormorant’s typical posture, although the shags living in Antarctic and subantarctic regions do not perform “wing-spreading” probably as an adaptation to the very cold climate and to avoid the heat loss. Hatching occurs about 1 month after the eggs are laid. The chicks will then remain in the nest for a further 2 months. The chick is fed with regurgitated food that is pulled out of the adult’s throat. Some colonies of Cormorants have been observed herding fish for more efficient hunting. The nest is mostly made of finger-size sticks, with some seaweed and flotsam, and lined with grass.  high; ground nests tend to be wider than tree nests, but tree nests have deeper interiors. Breeding cormorants readily steal nesting materials from a nearby nest that’s not guarded.
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