Cormorant doing a Titanic

Cormorants and shags are medium-to-large seabirds. They are coastal rather than oceanic birds, and some have colonised inland waters - indeed, the original ancestor of cormorants seems to have been a fresh-water bird, judging from the habitat of the most ancient lineage.
All are fish-eaters, dining on small eels, fish, and even water snakes. They dive from the surface, presumably to give themselves a more streamlined entry into the water.
After fishing, cormorants are frequently seen holding their wings out in the sun. All cormorants have preen gland secretions that are used ostensibly to keep the feathers waterproof. The wing drying action is seen even in the flightless cormorant. Alternate functions suggested for the spread-wing posture include that it aids thermoregulation, digestion, balances the bird or indicates presence of fish. A detailed study of the Great Cormorant concludes that it is without doubt to dry the plumage. Cormorants belong to Pelican Family.

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Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Cormorant
• Shag
• Titanic