Photo: YCCHEN TW / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Japanese Cormorant
Phalacrocorax capillatus
Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Europe & Northern Asia.
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The Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus) is a member of the Phalacrocoracidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 2.8 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Suliformes
- Family Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants, Shags
- Genus Phalacrocorax
- Species capillatus
Where it lives
Northeastern Asian coasts: southeastern Russia including Sakhalin, southern Kuril Is., Hokkaido to Kyushu (north to southern Japan), Korean Pen. and northeastern China
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.8 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Phalacrocoracidae
- Order
- Suliformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Japanese Cormorant hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Japanese Cormorant is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus) is a member of the Phalacrocoracidae family, within the order Suliformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL ne Asian coasts: se Russia including Sakhalin, s Kuril Is., Hokkaido to Kyushu (n to s Japan), Korean Pen. and ne China.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.8 kg, with a wing length of about 31.5 cm and a tail of around 14.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 72,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Japanese Cormorant?
The Japanese Cormorant is a very large bird that weighs around 2.8 kg.
Where does the Japanese Cormorant live?
The Japanese Cormorant is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL ne Asian coasts: se Russia including Sakhalin, s Kuril Is., Hokkaido to Kyushu (n to s Japan), Korean Pen. and ne China, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Japanese Cormorant belong to?
The Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus) belongs to the Phalacrocoracidae family, in the order Suliformes.
What does the Japanese Cormorant eat?
The Japanese Cormorant hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Japanese Cormorant migrate?
The Japanese Cormorant is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Japanese Cormorant endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Japanese Cormorant's range?
The Japanese Cormorant has a mapped global range of about 72,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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