? Cormorants
Red-faced Cormorant, Phalacrocorax urile
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae Reichenbach, 1850
Genera
Nannopterum Phalacrocorax Leucocarbo red-faced cormorant USFWS File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria Placozoa Subregnum Bilateria  Acoelomorpha  Orthonectida  Rhombozoa  Myxozoa  Superphylum Deuterostomia     Chordata (vertebrates, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascideiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Many - see section below. ... Families Pelecanidae Sulidae Phalacrocoracidae Fregatidae Anhingidae Phaethontidae The Pelecaniformes are an order of medium-sized and large waterbirds found worldwide. ... Heinrich Gottlieb Ludwig Reichenbach Heinrich Gottlieb Ludwig Reichenbach (January 8, 1793 - March 17, 1879) was a German botanist and ornithologist. ... Binomial name Nannopterum harrisi (Rothschild, 1898) The Flightless Cormorant, Nannopterum harrisi, is a cormorant native to the Galapagos Islands. ... Genera Nannopterum Phalacrocorax Leucocarbo The Phalacrocoracidae family of birds is represented by over thirty species of cormorants and shags. ...

The Phalacrocoracidae family of birds is represented by about thirty species of cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed recently, but in the one most commonly used, all but three species are placed in a single genus Phalacrocorax, the exceptions being the Galapagos Flightless Cormorant, the Kerguelen Shag and the Imperial Shag. In biology, a species is, loosely speaking, a group of related organisms that share a more or less distinctive form and are capable of interbreeding. ... See genus (mathematics) for the use of the term in mathematics. ... Orthographic projection centred over the Galapagos For the novel Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut, see: Galápagos (book) The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of some 13 volcanic islands and associated islets and rocks located in the Pacific Ocean about 1,000 kilometers west of the coast of South America. ...

There is no consistent distinction between cormorants and shags. The names "cormorant" and "shag" were originally the common names of the two species of the family found in Great Britain, Phalacracorax carbo (now referred to by ornithologists as the Great Cormorant) and P. aristotelis (the Common Shag). "Shag" refers to the bird's crest, which the British forms of the Great Cormorant lack. As other species were discovered by English-speaking sailors and explorers elsewhere in the world, some were called cormorants and some shags, depending on whether they had crests or not. Sometimes the same species is called a cormorant in one part of the world and a shag in another, e.g. the Great Cormorant is called the Black Shag in New Zealand (the birds found in Australasia have a crest that is absent in European members of the species). Some modern classifications of the family have divided it into two genera and have tried to attach the name "Cormorant" to one and "Shag" to the other, but this flies in the face of common usage and has not been widely adopted. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Australasia is the area that includes Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and the many smaller islands in the vicinity, most of which are the eastern part of Indonesia. ... World map showing location of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... See genus (mathematics) for the use of the term in mathematics. ...

Christopher Isherwood was obviously unaware of the distinction when he began a poem, "The common cormorant (or shag)/lays eggs inside a paper bag". His information about the bird's nesting habits shouldn't be relied on either. Christopher Isherwood and W.H. Auden, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1939 Christopher Isherwood (prior to 1946 Christopher William Bradshaw-Isherwood) (August 26, 1904 – January 4, 1986), Anglo-American novelist, was born at Disley, Cheshire (now in Greater Manchester) in the north west of England. ... Poetry (ancient Greek: poieo = create) is an art form in which human language is used for its aesthetic qualities in addition to, or instead of, its notional and semantic content. ...

Cormorants and shags are medium-to-large seabirds. The majority, including all Northern Hemisphere species, have mainly dark plumage, but some Southern Hemisphere species are black and white, and a few (e.g. the Spotted Shag of New Zealand are quite colourful. Many species have areas of coloured skin on the face (the lores and the gular skin) which can be bright blue, orange, red or yellow, typically becoming more brightly coloured in the breeding season. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed, a distinguishing feature among the Pelecaniformes order. Seabirds are birds that spend much of their lives, outside the breeding season at least, at sea. ... Closeup on a single white feather A feather is one of the epidermal growths that forms the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on a bird. ... Binomial name Phalacrocorax punctatus (Sparrman, 1786) The Spotted Shag or Parekareka (Phalacrocorax punctatus, also occasionally called the Spotted Cormorant) is an attractive species of the family Phalacrocoracidae found only in New Zealand. ... Lore is: A body of cultural traditions and knowledge. ... Families Pelecanidae Sulidae Phalacrocoracidae Fregatidae Anhingidae Phaethontidae The Pelecaniformes are an order of medium-sized and large waterbirds found worldwide. ... Scientific classification or biological classification refers to how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ...

They are coastal rather than oceanic birds, and some have colonised inland waters. They range around the world, except for the central Pacific islands. For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ...

All are fish-eaters, dining on small eels, fish, and even water snakes. They dive from the surface, though many species make a characteristic half-jump as they dive, presumably to give themselves a more streamlined entry into the water. Under water they propel themselves with their feet. Groups Conodonta Hyperoartia Petromyzontidae (lampreys) Pteraspidomorphi (early jawless fish) Thelodonti Anaspida Cephalaspidomorphi (early jawless fish) Galeaspida Pituriaspida Osteostraci Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) Placodermi Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) Acanthodii Osteichthyes (bony fish) Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish) Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) Actinistia (coelacanths) Dipnoi (lungfish) A fish is a poikilothermic (cold-blooded)* water-dwelling... Families Suborder Anguilloidei Anguillidae (freshwater eels) Heterenchelyidae Moringuidae (worm eels) Xenocongridae (false morays) Muraenidae (moray eels) Myrocongridae Suborder Nemichthyoidei Nemichthyidae (snipe eels) Serrivomeridae (sawtooth snipe eels) Cyemidae (bobtail snipe eels) Suborder Congroidei Congridae (congers) Muraenesocidae (conger pikes) Nettastomatidae (witch eels) Nessorhamphidae (duckbilled eels) Derichthyidae (neck eels) Ophichthidae (snake eels) Macrocephenchelyidae... Superfamilies and Families Henophidia Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Cylindrophiidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenopeltidae Typhlopoidea Anomalepididae Leptotyphlopidae Typhlopidae Xenophidia Acrochordidae Atractaspididae Colubridae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Viperidae Snakes are cold blooded legless reptiles closely related to lizards, which share the order Squamata. ...

After fishing, cormorants go ashore to dry their wings by holding them out in the sun. Unusually for a water bird, their feathers are not waterproofed. This may help them dive quickly, since their feathers do not retain air bubbles. Closeup on a single white feather A feather is one of the epidermal growths that forms the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on a bird. ...

Cormorants are colonial nesters, using trees, rocky islets, or cliffs. The eggs are a chalky-blue colour. There is usually one brood a year. The young are fed through regurgitation. An average Whooping Crane egg is 102 mm long, and weighs 208 grams A baby tortoise emerges from a reptile egg. ... Regurgitation is the passive flow of stomach contents back into the oesophagus and mouth. ...

Humans have historically exploited cormorants' fishing skills, in China and Japan, where they have been trained by fishermen. Traditional cormorant fishing can be watched in the city of Inuyama, in Aichi Prefecture in Japan. In Guilin, China, cormorant birds are famous for fishing on the shallow Lijiang River. Inuyama (犬山市; -shi) is a city located near Nagoya in Aichi, Japan. ... Aichi Prefecture (愛知県 Aichi-ken) is located in the Chubu region of Japan. ... Lijiang River Guilin (Chinese: æ¡‚æž—; pinyin: ; Postal System Pinyin: Kweilin) is one of Chinas most picturesque cities, situated northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the Peoples Republic of China on the west bank of the Lijiang River (also called the Li River). ... The Li River The Li River (Chinese: 漓江, pinyin: Lí Jiāng) is a river in Guangxi Province, China. ...

Related species

Chinese man with fishing cormorant

This group is related to other Pelecaniformes as follows: Image File history File links Download high resolution version (768x1024, 134 KB)Chinese man with tame fishing cormorant, Yunnan Province, China By My Hobo Soul File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (768x1024, 134 KB)Chinese man with tame fishing cormorant, Yunnan Province, China By My Hobo Soul File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

• ORDER PELECANIFORMES
  • Family Sulidae: gannets and boobies
  • Family Phalacrocoracidae
    • Genus Phalacrocorax
      • Brandt's Cormorant, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
      • Double-crested Cormorant or White-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus
      • Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
      • Neotropic Cormorant, Phalacrocorax brasilianus
      • Olivaceous Cormorant or Mexican Cormorant, Phalacrocorax olivaceus
      • Pelagic Cormorant or Baird's Cormorant, Phalacrocorax pelagicus
      • Red-faced Cormorant, Phalacrocorax urile
      • Guanay Cormorant , Phalacrocorax bougainvillii (off Peru, guano collected from nesting colonies of this bird is used to produce internationally traded commercial fertilizer)
      • Little Black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
      • Indian Cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
      • Cape Cormorant, Phalacrocorax capensis
      • Socotran Cormorant, Phalacrocorax nigrogularis
      • Wahlberg's Cormorant or Bank Cormorant, Phalacrocorax neglectus
      • Temminck's Cormorant, Phalacrocorax capillatus
      • Common Shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis
      • Rock Shag, Phalacrocorax magellanicus
      • Long-tailed Cormorant, Phalacrocorax africanus
      • Little Cormorant, Phalacrocorax niger
      • Pygmy Cormorant, Phalacrocorax pygmaeus
      • Pitt Cormorant or Featherstone's Shag Phalacrocorax featherstoni
      • Pied Cormorant or Yellow-faced Cormorant, Phalacrocorax varius
      • King Shag, Phalacrocorax carunculatus
      • Black-faced Cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscescens
      • Kerguelen Cormorant, Phalacrocorax verrucosus
      • Red-footed Shag, Phalacrocorax gaimardi
      • Spotted Shag Phalacrocorax punctatus
      • White-bellied Shag, Phalacrocorax albiventer
      • Little Pied Cormorant, Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
      • Stewart Island Shag, Phalacrocorax chalconotus
      • Chatham Shag, Phalacrocorax onslowi
      • Auckland Shag, Phalacrocorax colensoi
      • Campbell Shag, Phalacrocorax campbelli
      • Bounty Shag, Phalacrocorax ranfurlyi
    • Genus Leucocarbo
      • Imperial Shag, Leucocarbo atriceps (Previously Antarctic, South Georgian, Heard, Crozet, and Macquarie Shags, Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis, georgianus, nivalis, melanogenis, and purpurascens.)
      • Kerguelen Shag, Leucocarbo verrocosus (Previously P. verrocosus.)
    • Genus Nannopterum
      • Flightless Cormorant, Nannopterum harrisi (confined to the Galapagos Islands where, through evolution, its wings have shrunk to the size of a penguin's flippers)
  • Family Fregatidae: frigatebirds
  • Family Anhingidae: Anhinga and darters
  • Family Phaethontidae: tropicbirds

The King Shag of New Zealand has a number of races previously considered as full species. Families Pelecanidae Sulidae Phalacrocoracidae Fregatidae Anhingidae Phaethontidae The Pelecaniformes are an order of medium-sized and large waterbirds found worldwide. ... Genera Morus Sula Papasula The bird family Sulidae comprises the gannets and boobies. ... Binomial name Phalacrocorax penicillatus (Brandt, 1837) The Brandts Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus †) is a strictly marine bird of the cormorant family of seabirds that inhabits sea cliffs along the Pacific coast of North America. ... Binomial name Phalacrocorax auritus (Lesson, 1831) The Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus †) is a North American member of the cormorant family of seabirds. ... Binomial name Phalacrocorax carbo Linnaeus, 1758 The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is a widespread member of the cormorant family of seabirds. ... Binomial name Phalacrocorax brasilianus (Gmelin, 1789) The Neotropic Cormorant, Phalacrocorax brasilianus, is a cormorant found throughout the American tropics and subtropics, from the Gulf and Californian coasts of the USA, south through Mexico and Central America to southern South America. ... Binomial name Phalacrocorax pelagicus Pallas, 1811 The Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus †) is a small (25-29, 64-74 cm) member of the cormorant family found on the coasts of the northern Pacific. ... Binomial name Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Stephens, 1826 The Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. ... Binomial name Phalacrocorax aristotelis (Linnaeus, 1758) The Common Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. ... Binomial name Phalacrocorax africanus (Gmelin, 1789) The Long-tailed Cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus) is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. ... Binomial name Phalacrocorax niger Vieillot, 1817 The Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger) is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. ... Binomial name Phalacrocorax pygmaeus (Pallas, 1773) The Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus) is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. ... Binomial name Phalacrocorax varius (Gmelin, 1789) The Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius) is a medium-sized member of the cormorant family. ... Binomial name Phalacrocorax punctatus (Sparrman, 1786) The Spotted Shag or Parekareka (Phalacrocorax punctatus, also occasionally called the Spotted Cormorant) is an attractive species of the family Phalacrocoracidae found only in New Zealand. ... Binomial name Phalacrocorax melanoleucos (Vieillot, 1817) The Little Pied Cormorant, Little Shag or Kawaupaka (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos) is a common Australasian waterbird, found around the coasts, islands, estuaries, and inland waters of Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and around the islands of the south-western Pacific and the... Binomial name Nannopterum harrisi (Rothschild, 1898) The Flightless Cormorant, Nannopterum harrisi, is a cormorant native to the Galapagos Islands. ... NASA Satellite photo of the Galápagos archipelago. ... Charles Darwin, father of the theory of evolution by natural selection. ... Genera Aptenodytes Eudyptes Eudyptula Megadyptes Pygoscelis Spheniscus Penguins (order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae) are an order of flightless birds living in the southern hemisphere. ... Species There are five species in the order Fregatatidae, the frigatebirds. ... For the genus of fish also known as darters see Etheostoma Species Anhinga anhinga Anhinga melanogaster Anhinga rufa Anhinga novaehollandiae Australian Darter on the Murray River, South Australia Darters are cormorant-like water birds with very long necks and long, straight beaks. ... Species The three tropicbirds are closely related seabirds of tropical oceans. ...

The Spectacled Cormorant, Phalacrocorax perspicillatus, is extinct. Binomial name Phalacrocorax perspicillatus Pallas, 1811 The Spectacled Cormorant (Phalacrocorax perspicillatus) is an extinct marine bird of the cormorant family of seabirds that inhabited a few islands at the western end of the Aleutian Islands. ... In biology and ecology, extinction is the ceasing of existence of a species or group of taxons. ...

For an alternative scientific classification, see Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy. The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy is a radical new approach to bird taxonomy based on DNA studies which gives an arrangement differing greatly from the more traditional approach used in list of birds. ...

External links

• Cormorants (Phalacracorax carbo) in the British Isles