I guess most people would consider this bird to be u-g-l-y. Despite their looks, they are fascinating creatures. I don't know of any other bird that has a emerald/blue eye AND a bright yellow/orange bill. Most fish-eating birds hunt at the interface between the aquatic and atmospheric worlds. Eagles, osprey, great blue herons, kingfishers and more, all hunt no more than maybe a foot below the surface. Cormorants, on the other hand, enter the world of the fish, sometimes staying submerged so long, I begin to wonder if they havent' drowned! They meet fish on their own turf, so to speak. Can you imagine being a fish and coming face-to-face with a bird deep in the water where you think you are safe from such predators?
The reason I posted this photo is because you can get a good look at their feet which are so well-designed for underwater propulsion. Those are some big honking feet when you consider them in proportion to the rest of the bird. Some diving birds also use their wings for propulsion, but cormorants mostly use their feet.
In the area where I film, I have seen them almost exclusively catch catfish between about eight and twelve inches long. That downturned "nail" on the end of the upper beak makes it difficult for the fish to escape - and, actually, I have never seen a fish get away once caught. All they can do is spin around on that nail.
So, they dive below the surface, catch a fish with their mouth, bring it to the surface, reposition it so that they can swallow it - all without the aid of anything but their mouth. If you enjoy a watermelon eating contest or dunking for apples, you'll love watching them catch fish.
When you see one just sitting on the water, don't be fooled. They may look like they aren't doing anything (and occasionally they are not), but most of the time they are resting for a minute and catching their breath before making another dive. Wait for them to resurface and see if they have caught a fish. It is fascinating to watch.
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