Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Genus: Phalacrocorax
Species: Phalacrocorax carbo
These are Great cormorants (Phalacrocorax
carbo). They have been found off the coast of Tonekabon, south of Caspian
Sea. In Tonekabon the species can be found during of all seasons but they are
most often seen in autumn and winter.
Great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) are one
of the most widespread of cormorant species, with a
cosmopolitan distribution. Great cormorants are found throughout Europe, Asia,
Africa, Australia, and in northeastern coastal North America.
Ecology Behaviour: Throughout its range
the species is sedentary or locally dispersive, with northerly populations also
making strong migratory movements. The timing of breeding varies
geographically, occurring all year round or coinciding with
the rains in the tropics and peaking between April and June in the
temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The species breeds in
mixed-species colonies of 10-500 pairs (occasionally up to 1,000
pairs), the size of the colony depending upon the extent of nearby feeding
areas. It is usually a solitary feeder but may form large fishing flocks
in some areas.
Habitat The species
frequents both coastal and inland habitats. In marine environments it occurs in
sheltered coastal areas on estuaries, saltpans, coastal lagoons, mangrove
swamps, deltas and coastal bays, requiring rocky shores, cliffs and islets
for nesting but generally avoiding deep water and rarely extending far
offshore. It also inhabits fresh, brackish or saline inland wetlands2 including
lakes, reservoirs, wide rivers, flood waters, deep marshes with open water,
swamps and oxbow lakes, requiring trees, bushes, reedbeds or bare ground for
nesting and avoiding overgrown, small, very shallow or very deep waters.
Photographer: M. Sepehr
Location: Caspian Sea - Iran
-mazandaran - tonekabon
