Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Other Names

  White-necked Cormorant, White-breasted Cormorant, Large/Common Black Cormorant, European Cormorant   Grand Cormoran   Kormoran   Cormorán Cuelliblanco   Storskarv   Aalscholver   Cormorano

World: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America.

Kenya: Found throughout Kenya on large inland waters, with the exception of Lake Magadi, breeding on large lakes in the Rift Valley

The White-breasted Cormorant, sometimes treated as a separate species than the Great Cormorant, is restricted to Africa, predominantly East and South Africa. It's a large, heavy bird, which can be seen roosting in colonies on top of submerged boat-houses and fences. It is considerably larger than the only other cormorant species occurring in Kenya (the Long-tailed Cormorant). Its habit of submerging until only its head and neck are visible can, at a distance, cause it to be confused with the African Darter