Species

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Great Cormorants get their scientific and English name from corvids. The English word "cormorant" comes from "corvus marinus", or raven of the sea.

The scientific name, "Phalacrocorax carbo" comes from the Greek words "Phalakros" (bald) and "corax" (raven), and the Latin "carbo" (charcoal), so bald charcoal raven. These names are reflected in other languages as well, for example in Dutch they're sometimes called "waterraaf" (water raven) as well, even though their official Dutch name is "aalscholver", referring to the eel they eat.

In Norway we have two subspecies of cormorant. Phalacrocorax carbo subsp. carbo, which is more common in marine environments, and Phalacrocorax carbo subsp. sinensis, which is found more in-land and also called "mellomskarv" (middle cormorant).

Also known as

  • Phalacrocorax carbo (Scientific)
  • Great Cormorant (English)
  • Storskarv (Norwegian)

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