Great Cormorant
Latin: Phlalacrocorax carbo (Linné 1758)
Svenska: Storskarv
Deutsch: Kormoran
Expert in deep dives
When the cormorant dives, its outer feathers get wet. This makes it easy to dive, and it can dive to considerable depths. However, since the outer feathers gets wet, it makes it harder for the cormorant to take off into the air again. This is the reason why you often see the great cormorant sitting with its wings spread out, its drying them so it can take off faster.
The great cormorant was nearly extinct in Sweden in the early 1900’s. Uppland was recolonized by these birds relatively late – the first great cormorant in Uppland built a nest in Lövstabukten in 1989. Now there are more than 2500 mating pairs in northern Uppland’s archipelago alone. Today, the great cormorant can be found in Mälaren as well.
They migrate to Central Europe and return in March or April.
Photo: Johan Söderkranz ©
Latest sightings of great cormorants in Uppland
NatureGate on the great cormorant
Wikipedia article on the great cormorant