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Grand Cormoran

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Description

Reputed to be ugly birds, they are quite beautiful close up.
They are also quite shy and this is the closest I've managed so far.
They have bright emerald green eyes, and mottled brown markings on their wings.
They are amazing underwater swimmers, and unlike ducks, geese and swans, cormorants do not grease their feathers, in order to be able to deep dive without trapping air in the feathers.
This explains why they sit so low in the water and why they have to hang their wings out to dry when they leave the water.
I don't know why the beak is hooked like that - perhaps someone can inform me? (please)
Image size
3041x2029px 1.06 MB
Make
NIKON CORPORATION
Model
NIKON D200
ISO Speed
800
Date Taken
Jun 16, 2009, 1:27:26 PM
© 2009 - 2024 Austinii
Comments9
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lightrae's avatar
Many of the aquatic predators exibit some degree of hooking at the beak tip, even those like the Comorant which swallow their prey whole. One would assume that the aids in the capture and/or holding of that prey.

Having been on the receiving end of several beaks, including Shearwater, Gull, Turtle and Cormorant, I can attest to their strength and suprising cutting ability.