The cormorant and shag are two large, black primitive-looking water birds that can confuse even the most experienced bird watchers.
Although there are fewer cormorants in the UK than shags, you’re more likely to see one as they are more widely distributed.
Cormorant
White thigh patches
1 of 4Bronze plumage
2 of 4Bare throat patch and around the eyes
3 of 4Flat forehead
4 of 4The cormorant is a heavy-set bird with black plumage with a bronze sheen on its upperparts. It has an angular-shaped head with a flat forehead, and a thick bill with a bare gular patch and bare skin around the eyes. In breeding season, it has white patches on its thighs which are obvious in flight, and under its chin.
It flies with a kink in its neck with steady wing beats, either alone or in loose ‘V’ formation. It can be found across the UK including inland and on freshwater.
Shag
Glossy green plumage
1 of 3Angled forehead with crest
2 of 3Feathers around the eyes
3 of 3The shag is smaller with a slender body and lighter build. It has a metallic green gloss on its plumage and a purple tinge to its wings. It has a steep forehead with a prominent curved crest on the forecrown in breeding season, a thinner bill, a long, thin neck that has a snake-like appearance, and a yellow gape, but no gular patch. The eyes are set in feathers.
In flight the shag holds its neck out straight. It flies low over water with faster wing beats and its rounded belly is more obvious. It is rarely found inland.
10 Responses
Not sure if I’m looking at Shags or cormorants as they are too far away. They are perched high in a tree, about 4 of them overlooking River Severn, in Upton upon Severn.
They occasionally fligh along the river. Lovely sight to see.
We have cormorants in my area but they have white breast plumage?
Saw,one this morning in dudley on top of a lampost just over a canal bridge. 1st time iv ever seen one had to google to figure out what it was. It was there a good while as when i returned the same way was still. There so i stopped should of got picture. Flew off down canal.
Having never seen one before untill 2 wks ago, i saw 3 together yesterday in a tree next to resevior near merryhill probly less than a mile from when 1st spotted definitly think it was the comarand rather than the shag as one was stretching out its wings but could clearly see the white. Passanger in car this time. But gona pop up to see if can get a picture.
Cormorant sorrry not coromand
Just seen a cormorant on the Dart River near Newbridge. Quite a surprise as I was taking pictures of a waterfall and suddenly it appeared. It seemed un-phased by me taking pics on the other side of the river. Spread its wings, as they do, sat for a while and then went fishing. Lovely to see and quite close and alone. Got some nice pics and have learnt the difference between a cormorant and a shag. Thanks.
There’s an almost tame Shag living in Sutton Harbour, Plymouth, at the moment. Last week it was looking very forlorn and I realised it had become entangled in fishing line which was immobilising it. I wouldn’t usually attempt to handle a wild bird but it seemed the right thing to do so I caught it quite easily and held it as I would a chicken while another person gently removed the line. When I put it down it sort of shrugged its shoulders and slowly waddled off, no sign of stress. Lovely creature, a privilege to be so close to it.
Masses of Shags in Norwich! So common here that I see at least 10 every day. We live by the river and on the Norfolk Broads.
Such beautiful creatures.
Shag spotted at Blantyre yesterday on the Clyde, about 15 miles inland from Glasgow.
I saw a cormorant on the bank of the Ashton Canal, I think by lock 13 – it’s the lock by the Strawberry Duck public house on Crabtree Lane – and what a beautiful bird. Very elegant and larger than I expected a cormorant to be. I identified thanks to your website and being able to compare it to your photo’s. Cheers,
Andy Sewart