Great Cormorant
Great CormorantGreat CormorantGreat CormorantGreat Cormorant

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
at Amsterdam

In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%

1,436 Verified sightings at Amsterdam
34,125 In all 100 parks From 2019 to 2026
January Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Great Cormorant

The great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), also known as just cormorant in Britain, as black shag or kawau in New Zealand, formerly also known as the great black cormorant across the Northern Hemisphere, the black cormorant in Australia, and the large cormorant in India, is a widespread member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It breeds in much of the Old World, Australasia, and the Atlantic coast of North America.

The great cormorant was formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Pelecanus carbo. Linnaeus specified the type location as "Europe", but this was restricted to the "rock-nesting form of the north Atlantic Ocean" by the German ornithologist Ernst Hartert in 1920. The great cormorant is now one of 12 species placed in the genus Phalacrocorax that was introduced in 1760 by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson. The genus name is Latinised Ancient Greek, from φαλακρός (phalakros, "bald") and κόραξ (korax, "raven"); the specific epithet carbo is Latin for "charcoal".

Six subspecies are accepted. These are listed below with their breeding ranges... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Call0:33

France · 2025

Sonothèque ADVL · XC1059525 · CC0

Begging call0:46

Spain · 2024

© antonio fontoira · XC930052 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Flight call0:07

Estonia · 2023

© Uku Paal · XC839104 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~70%
2 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~60%
3 Keoladeo National Park 🇮🇳 India
~60%
4 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~60%
5 Camargue 🇫🇷 France
~50%
6 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~50%
7 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~50%
8 De Hoop Nature Reserve 🇿🇦 South Africa
~50%
9 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~50%
10 West Coast National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
11 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~40%
12 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
13 Kaziranga National Park 🇮🇳 India
~40%
14 uMkhuze Game Reserve 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
15 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~30%
16 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~30%
17 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~30%
18 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~30%
19 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~30%
20 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
~30%
21 Nikko National Park 🇯🇵 Japan
~30%
22 Maria Island National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~30%
23 Freycinet National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~30%
24 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
~30%
25 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~30%
26 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
27 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~30%
28 Fiordland National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~30%
29 Namdapha National Park 🇮🇳 India
~30%
30 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
31 Hattah-Kulkyne National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~20%
32 Great Otway National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~20%
33 Sierra Nevada National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~20%
34 Booderee National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~20%
35 Nagarhole National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
36 Periyar National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
37 Triglav National Park 🇸🇮 Slovenia
~20%
38 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~20%
39 Royal National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~20%
40 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
41 Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~20%
42 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~20%
43 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
44 Udawalawe National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~20%
45 Royal Manas National Park 🇧🇹 Bhutan
~20%
46 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
47 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
48 Minneriya National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~10%
49 Kosciuszko National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
50 Plitvice Lakes National Park 🇭🇷 Croatia
~10%
51 Wilsons Promontory National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
52 Royal Bardia National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
~10%
53 Arthur's Pass National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~10%
54 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~10%
55 Manas National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
56 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
57 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~10%
58 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
59 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
60 Wilpattu National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~10%
61 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~10%
62 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
63 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
64 Abel Tasman National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~10%
65 Mudumalai National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
66 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
~10%
67 Egmont National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~10%
68 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
~10%
69 Flinders Chase 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
70 Bandipur National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
71 Noosa National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
72 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
73 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
74 Daintree National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
75 Grampians National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
76 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
77 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
<5%
78 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
<5%
79 Aigüestortes National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
80 Gir National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
81 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
82 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
83 Rottnest Island 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
84 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
85 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
86 Gauja National Park 🇱🇻 Latvia
<5%
87 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
88 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
89 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
90 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
91 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
<5%
92 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
93 Springbrook National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
94 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
95 Rakiura National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
<5%
96 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
97 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
98 Lamington National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
99 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
100 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Dakar 🇸🇳 Senegal
~70%
2 Tokyo 🇯🇵 Japan
~70%
3 Liverpool 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~60%
4 Nagoya 🇯🇵 Japan
~60%
5 Osaka 🇯🇵 Japan
~60%
6 Turin 🇮🇹 Italy
~60%
7 Fukuoka 🇯🇵 Japan
~60%
8 Hiroshima 🇯🇵 Japan
~60%
9 Rotterdam [The Hague] 🇳🇱 Netherlands
~50%
10 Copenhagen 🇩🇰 Denmark
~50%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom 🇨🇳 China In captivity
2 Chimelong Spaceship 🇨🇳 China In captivity
3 San Diego Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
4 Moscow Zoo 🇷🇺 Russia In captivity
5 Skansen 🇸🇪 Sweden In captivity
6 Australia Zoo 🇦🇺 Australia In captivity
7 Zoo Pilsen 🇨🇿 Czechia In captivity
8 Walsrode World Bird Park 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
9 San Diego Zoo Safari Park 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
10 Toronto Zoo 🇨🇦 Canada In captivity
11 Khao Kheow Open Zoo 🇹🇭 Thailand In captivity
12 Parc animalier de Sainte-Croix 🇫🇷 France In captivity
13 Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo 🇨🇳 China In captivity
14 The Maryland Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
15 Silesian Zoological Garden 🇵🇱 Poland In captivity
16 Audubon Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
17 Kyiv Zoo 🇺🇦 Ukraine In captivity
18 Berlin Zoological Garden 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
19 Wilhelma 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
20 碧峰峡野生动物世界 🇨🇳 China In captivity
21 Opel-Zoo 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
22 Schönbrunn Zoo 🇦🇹 Austria In captivity
23 Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden 🇭🇺 Hungary In captivity
24 Kharkiv Zoo 🇺🇦 Ukraine In captivity
25 Royev Ruchey Zoo 🇷🇺 Russia In captivity
26 Rivne Zoo 🇺🇦 Ukraine In captivity
27 Racine Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
28 L'Oceanogràfic 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
29 Leningrad Zoo 🇷🇺 Russia In captivity
30 Zoo di Pistoia 🇮🇹 Italy In captivity
31 Odesa Zoo 🇺🇦 Ukraine In captivity
32 Las Águilas Jungle Park 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
33 AQUA Akvarium & Dyrepark 🇩🇰 Denmark In captivity
34 World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park 🇿🇦 South Africa In captivity
35 NaturOparc (Centre de réintroduction des cigognes et des loutres) 🇫🇷 France In captivity
36 Zoo Lagos 🇵🇹 Portugal In captivity
37 Selwo Marina 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
38 Ecomare 🇳🇱 Netherlands In captivity
39 Oceanium 🇳🇱 Netherlands In captivity
40 Aquarium Berlin 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
41 Kharkiv Dolphinarium 🇺🇦 Ukraine In captivity
42 vzw Opvangcentrum voor Vogels en Wilde dieren 🇧🇪 Belgium In captivity
43 Baltic Sea Science Center 🇸🇪 Sweden In captivity
44 Château of Thoiry 🇫🇷 France In captivity
45 Birding center in Eilat 🇮🇱 Israel In captivity
46 Lake Tisza Ecocentre 🇭🇺 Hungary In captivity
47 Ogród Zoologiczny w Katowicach 🇵🇱 Poland In captivity

Closest Relatives at Amsterdam

European Shag

European Shag

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Eurasian Coot
LC

Eurasian Coot

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fulica atra

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely
Eurasian Magpie
LC

Eurasian Magpie

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pica pica

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Wood Pigeon
LC

Wood Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columba palumbus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Carrion Crow
LC

Carrion Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corone

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Eurasian Jackdaw
LC

Eurasian Jackdaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coloeus monedula

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Common Moorhen
LC

Common Moorhen

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gallinula chloropus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Rose-ringed Parakeet

Rose-ringed Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psittacula krameri

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Grey Heron
LC

Grey Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea cinerea

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Great Cormorant in Amsterdam?

Likely

About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Great Cormorant sighting in Amsterdam on a given day, based on 1,436 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 18th most-seen of the 132 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Great Cormorant in Amsterdam?

December and January

In those months about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Great Cormorant in Amsterdam on a given day, against about 30% in June, the lowest month.

What time of day is best to see a Great Cormorant?

Between 10 am and 1 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Great Cormorant sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Amsterdam the best place to see a Great Cormorant?

16th of 187

Of the 187 cities where we can rate Great Cormorant sightings, Amsterdam ranks 16th at about 50%. The best odds are in Dakar (Senegal, about 70%), Tokyo (Japan, about 70%) and Liverpool (United Kingdom, about 60%).

Where does the Great Cormorant sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Great Cormorant is recorded against all the birds logged in Amsterdam (1,436 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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