Great Cormorant

The great cormorant is a large member of the cormorant family, widespread across the Old World, Australasia and the Atlantic coast of North America. Size varies widely across its range: reported weights run from 1.5 to 5.3 kilograms. Males are typically larger than females, and the nominate subspecies averages about 10 percent larger in linear measurements than the smaller continental subspecies sinensis. Six subspecies are accepted, and the closely related Japanese cormorant may be embedded within the species genetically. (Wikipedia, general species account)

A very common and widespread bird, it feeds at sea in inshore waters, in estuaries, and on freshwater lakes and rivers. Northern birds migrate south to escape freezing waters, moving to any unfrozen, fish-rich coast or freshwater, while birds in warmer areas disperse locally. It nests in colonies in trees, on cliff ledges, or on predator-free rocky islands, building a stick nest and often reusing the site year after year. Three to five pale blue or green eggs are incubated for about 28–31 days. (Wikipedia, general species account)