Anne Cotton

Large, predominantly black waterbird, relying almost entirely on fish. Breeds in small to very large colonies, found both in freshwater as well as marine habitats. Very large, near cosmopolitan breeding range. In Europe, disjunct breeding distribution from France and UK east to Black Sea region, Belarus, Baltic states, and N to northernmost Norway. Northern and eastern populations migratory, western and southern populations largely resident with some dispersal. European population 401,000-512,000 breeding pairs with increasing trend. Prone to drowning in fishing nets, some populations controlled.

Season of assessment

B

Population trendIncreasing
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		828000-1030000,926000
Red List categoryLC
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Great Cormorant

UK birds move due S to Atlantic coast of France and NW Spain. Birds in W Europe largely resident, Some move to France, fewer Spain and Tunisia. Central European breeders mainly move SW, some reaching Tunisia and French and Spanish Mediterranean coasts, minority moves SSE to Greece. Northern and eastern populations move longest, predominantly to Spain and Tunisia, one reached S Mali.  Males stay closer to breeding areas than females (Bregnballe et al. 1997). Minority of eastern populations move due S to Greece. Birds breeding northern Black Sea coast move to Middle east in winter or remain in area. Birds breeding Wolga Delta winter southern coast of Caspian Sea or further S to Persian Gulf.

Recoveries by Condition for Great Cormorant

Almost two-thirds of all recoveries are of dead birds; among which 20% are shot or otherwise taken, remainder is other causes of death. Reports of shot birds biased towards France and Italy, few in N. Europe, almost none in low countries. Dead birds from other causes are relatively evenly distributed in coastal areas throughout Europe. Ringing recoveries very few, ring readings almost one-third, mainly in UK, Netherlands, Denmark and Germany.

Annual Movements for Great Cormorant

During winter Nov-Feb most re-encounters in N. Africa, SW, SC, W and C Europe, UK/Ireland and coast of Norway. From begin Mar numbers in NW Africa and Middle East decrease, fewer in France and fewer on Norway coast. From begin April N. Africa and SE Europe largely vacated. Begin May re-encounters more concentrated in colonies in NW, W, C and N. Europe. Begin Jun. whole of S. Europe vacated and marked concentrations in low countries, Denmark, coast of UK and France and Baltic coasts. First encounters in northernmost colonies begin May, until mid Aug. First birds return to N. Africa in Oct, more dispersed re-encounters in inland France, Spain, Italy. Birds re-appear in Middle East only end Nov.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Great Cormorant

Winter re-encounters in Nov-Mar in N. Europe entirely confined to coast, and connected to northernmost breeding sites in Jun-Jul. Breeding birds in May-Jul connect to wintering sites in France, Spain, Italy and NW Africa. Few birds winter in E. Europe, encounters in Nov-Mar on Baltic, Black Sea and Caspian Sea coasts connected to close-by breeding sites. Breeding birds in May-Jul connect to wintering sites scattered over C, SW, SC and SE Europe in Oct-Feb. Wintering birds in W. Europe Oct-Mar connect to breeding sites in UK and Ireland, Denmark and Baltic in May-Jul, but not to Northernmost colonies. Breeding birds in May-Jul connect to wintering sites in France, Spain and Tunisia in Oct-Mar. Breeding season encounters in May-Jul in SW, SC and SE Europe mainly connect to more northern breeding sites in May-Jul.

Henk van der Jeugd

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries