Great Cormorant
Great CormorantGreat CormorantGreat CormorantGreat Cormorant

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Salem

In 3 days <5% in a week ~10%

9 Verified sightings at Salem
34,125 In all 100 parks From 2019 to 2026
February 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 Salem

Indian Cormorant
LC

Indian Cormorant

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Phalacrocorax fuscicollis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Little Cormorant
LC

Little Cormorant

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Microcarbo niger

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Oriental Darter
LC

Oriental Darter

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Anhinga melanogaster

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
House Crow
LC

House Crow

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Corvus splendens

Daily sighting probability >90% · Very likely
Rose-ringed Parakeet

Rose-ringed Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psittacula krameri

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Black Drongo
LC

Black Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus macrocercus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Large-billed Crow
LC

Large-billed Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus macrorhynchos

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
White-throated Kingfisher
LC

White-throated Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Halcyon smyrnensis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Common Tailorbird
LC

Common Tailorbird

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Orthotomus sutorius

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Yellow-billed Babbler

Yellow-billed Babbler

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Turdoides affinis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Asian Koel
LC

Asian Koel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eudynamys scolopaceus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Ashy Prinia
LC

Ashy Prinia

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Prinia socialis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Before you go

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

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Great Cormorant sighting in Salem on a given day, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 79th most-seen of the 95 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, and over a week to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.

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

Any time of year

In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Great Cormorant in Salem on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.

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 Salem the best place to see a Great Cormorant?

178th of 187

Of the 187 cities where we can rate Great Cormorant sightings, Salem ranks 178th at under 5%. 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 Salem (9 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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