Cormorant

Cormorant, any of a number of long-necked seabirds (family Phalacrocoracidae). Cormorants feed on fish, diving from the surface of the water. Their nests are built in colonies on rocks or in trees and they can often be seen perching with wings outstretched to dry. Northern cormorants have black plumage, but many of those of the Southern Hemisphere have white under-parts; all have patches of naked colored skin on the head. Cormorants have been trained to catch fish for people in Britain, China, and Japan. A ring is usually placed around the neck to prevent fish from being swallowed.