MarineWorld: December 2011

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 roundor 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