Fun Japanese Cormorant Facts For Kids

Are you interested in knowing more about birds like the little blue heron? If yes, then stay tuned as we are going to talk about the Japanese cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus).

You may guess that this cormorant is found in Japan, but other than that, it's also found near the coasts of Korea, Russia, Taiwan, and China. In Japan, the bird is called by the name umiu, and the species have long been used by fishermen as a part of traditional cormorant fishing called ukai.

This large seabird is covered in black feathers that have a greenish tinge, and it has a yellow-black bill.

And, these birds have exceptional fishing skills as they can dive deep into the water to get fish. Also, the large wingspan of these birds also helps them to make long journeys to hunt for fish.

It mainly prefers marine environments of sea coasts or islands and is never present in inland areas. Unfortunately, due to high mortality rates, these birds are often unable to live a longer life, but the population is still stable.

Want to know more about this bird? Keep reading to find Japanese cormorant facts. Also, check out the articles on Australian pelican and Sarus cranes for more info on birds.

Japanese Cormorant Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Japanese cormorant?

The Japanese cormorant is a species of cormorant that is a form of seabird.

What class of animal does a Japanese cormorant belong to?

The Japanese cormorant belongs to the class Aves and to the genus Phalacrocorax. Other species like the Neotropic cormorants also belong to the same genus.

How many Japanese cormorants are there in the world?

The global population of this species is estimated to be around 25,000-100,000 individuals.

Where does a Japanese cormorant live?

The Japanese cormorant range map is usually situated in the east Palearctic region. And, the bird is found in Taiwan, north of Korea, Japan as well as in the far east side of Russia, especially on the Sakhalin island. During the winters, these cormorants often tend to fly to China and Taiwan.

What is a Japanese cormorant's habitat?

When it comes to the Japanese cormorant habitat, this bird prefers marine coasts and islands. This species can't be found in inland areas.

Who do Japanese cormorants live with?

Cormorants as a species are gregarious in nature, so you can often catch the birds hunting together in the water looking for fish. Even during the breeding season, these birds tend to form colonies to nest together. Moreover, some cormorant species live in flocks of up to 4,000 birds.

How long does a Japanese cormorant live?

Even though it's believed that Japanese cormorants have a life of up to 25 years, in most cases, the birds will live for a much lesser time due to a high mortality rate. The usual life in the wild is thought to be around four to five years.

How do they reproduce?

Not a whole lot of information is found about the breeding of these birds. But, it's said that the Japanese cormorant breeding plumage has a greenish tinge, and the male has a shaggy neck with a black and white appearance.

And, it also grows distinct filoplumes on its nape and crown. In Japan, the birds breed in the months of April to July by forming colonies.

These birds nest along with Great cormorants and herons, usually on cliffs or on tops of rock. Female cormorants lay around four to five eggs, and incubation lasts for around 34 days.

Also, the baby cormorants can take 40 more days to fledge. Parents need to be quite careful during this time as both eggs and chicks face a threat from probable predators.

What is their conservation status?

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the Japanese cormorant has currently been placed under the status of Least Concern. However, due to the Japanese cormorant fishing technique, this bird is highly protected in Japan as well as in other countries where the bird is found.

Japanese Cormorant Fun Facts

What do Japanese Cormorants look like?

When it comes to the appearance of this bird, you will notice that it's quite similar to a Great cormorant. One of the ways to distinguish the two species is through the green sheen that is present on the plumage of Japanese cormorants.

Most of its body is covered in black feathers except for the throat, where a white patch is present.

This cormorant species is also known for having a black and yellow beak. During the breeding season, a mane of white filoplumes covers the throat and neck region of this bird which is lost during the non-breeding season.

A white patch can also be seen on the flanks.

Male and females look similar, and the juvenile birds have a more brownish appearance compared to the black of adults. However, the most striking thing about this bird apart from the black and yellow beak is the blue-green irises that will remind you of the sea.

How cute are they?

This majestic bird is quite adorable, and it looks especially cute when you can see its white neck feathers.

How do they communicate?

These birds are mostly silent except the breeding season when a low call that sounds like 'guarr' is made close to its nest.

How big is a Japanese cormorant?

The average Japanese cormorant size is around 31-36.2 in (81-92 cm), making it quite a big bird species. Compared to it, the great cormorant has a size of around 27.5-40 in (70-102 cm), making the former species a tad smaller.

How fast can a Japanese cormorant fly?

We do not know the exact flying speed of these birds, but in general, the cormorant birds are said to have a speed of around 35 mph (55 kph). Moreover, the Japanese cormorant or umiu is also known for its large wingspan of up to 59.8 in (152 cm).

How much does a Japanese cormorant weigh?

The average weight of this bird is around 5-7.3 lb (2.3-3.5 kg), which is much more than smaller species.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There is no separate name for the male and female birds of this species.

What would you call a baby Japanese cormorant?

A baby Japanese cormorant is known as a chick.

What do they eat?

This cormorant species is known for its diving skills that allow it to hunt mainly for fish. It also has a long and wide throat that helps to gulp down even a big catch.

The fish species eaten differs according to the geographical area. However, anchovy, sandlance, rockfish, and greenling are some of the common fish species that were retrieved from the belly of these birds.

Rather than fishing alone, these birds have the characteristics of searching for fish in flocks. And, at times, this cormorant species can go on long foraging trips searching for food.

Are they dangerous?

Well, these are large birds, so it may end up hurting you with its bill if the bird is threatened. However, being aggressive isn't one of the characteristics seen in this cormorant species.

Would they make a good pet?

No, this cormorant is a wild bird, and it is conserved under the various laws in its natural area of occurrence. Having said that, the Japanese cormorant fisherman and companions used to hunt fish with the use of this species, but the tradition is declining for good.

Did you know...

Cormorant bird Japanese fishing still can be seen in Japan's Gifu City located in the Gifu Prefecture, which is situated near the Nagara River.

Cormorant, although a distinct fish-eating bird, is actually a duck.

Are Japanese cormorants endangered?

No, the Japanese cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus) isn't an endangered bird, and it is currently classified under the status of Least Concern.

What is special about the cormorant?

The most special thing about cormorants is their diving skill. These birds can dive up to 150 feet into the water to find fish.

These birds can also swim fast underwater with the help of their webbed feet and their wings as rudders. Moreover, the Japanese cormorant has long been employed for a traditional fishing technique called ukai.

In this system, a string or snare is tied around the neck of a cormorant to prevent the bird from swallowing the fish.

The fishermen make the birds dive underwater and lift them up when the fish has been caught. The traditional fishing system of the ukai is on the decline, but a similar technique of cormorant fishing has been used in China, Greece, and Peru.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these green heron facts and Andean flamingo facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable bird coloring pages.

Image one and two by Laitche.

*Please note that this is a picture of the great cormorant rather than the Japanese cormorant. Both the species look similar except for the white feathers present on the neck of the latter species. If you have a picture of the Japanese cormorant, then please email it to us at hello@kidadl.com!