cormorant

American  

[kawr-mer-uhnt] / ˈkɔr mər ənt /

noun

1. any of several voracious, totipalmate seabirds of the family Phalacrocoracidae, as Phalacrocorax carbo, of America, Europe, and Asia, having a long neck and a distensible pouch under the bill for holding captured fish, used in China for catching fish.

2. a greedy person.

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cormorant British  

/ ˈkɔːmərənt /

noun

1. any aquatic bird of the family Phalacrocoracidae, of coastal and inland waters, having a dark plumage, a long neck and body, and a slender hooked beak: order Pelecaniformes (pelicans, etc)

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Etymology

Origin of cormorant

1300–50; Middle English cormera ( u ) nt < Middle French cormorant, Old French cormareng < Late Latin corvus marīnus sea-raven. See corbel, marine

Explanation

A cormorant is a bird that lives near the ocean and dives for fish. You can recognize cormorants by their long necks and dark color. Cormorants live in coastal areas and use their sharp bills to catch fish. They look similar to ducks or seagulls when they float on the water, but when they hunt for fish, cormorants dive completely under water and disappear from the surface for several seconds. In Old French, the word for this bird was cormarenc, from the Late Latin corvus marinus, or "sea raven."

Example Sentences

Now, the pond was murky, and a cormorant stood hunting at the water’s edge.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2024

In 2018, there were also claims that Australians tried to rig the contest in favour of the shag - a species of cormorant.

From BBC • Sep. 16, 2024

At its 2013 peak, this was the largest double-crested cormorant colony in North America, with some 30,000 birds, more than 40% of the species’ population in the western U.S., according to the Corps.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 21, 2024

The ban could also benefit two other endangered seabirds, the Cape gannet and Cape cormorant, that also rely on sardine and anchovy as their primary food source, Waller says.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 17, 2023

Nor did I ever kill another cormorant for its beautiful feathers, though they have long, thin necks and make ugly sounds when they talk to each other.

From "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell

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