Phalacrocoracidae

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Phalacrocoracidae (cormorants, shags; class Aves, order Pelecaniformes) A family of medium to large, mainly black and brown, aquatic birds, some of which have a greenish or bluish sheen. They have medium-length, slender bills with hooked tips, bare, coloured skin around the eyes, and totipalmate feet. They have short wings, fairly long tails, and fly strongly except for Nannopterum harrisi (Galápagos cormorant), which is flightless. They are found on coasts, rivers, and lakes, and nest on islands, ledges, and trees. They dive for fish from the surface. There are two or three genera, and 32 species (27–31 of which comprise the genus Phalacrocorax), found world-wide.