No, cormorants and pelicans are two different types of water birds. While they may look similar at first glance, there are several key differences between cormorants and pelicans when it comes to their physical features, behavior, habitat, and classification.
Quick Facts
| Cormorant | Pelican | |
|---|---|---|
| Species | About 40 species | About 8 species |
| Size | Length of 2-3 ft | Large birds, up to 5 ft long |
| Distinguishing Features | Long neck, slender bill hooked at the end | Very large bill with a throat pouch |
| Habitat | Coastlines, marshes, lakes | Coastlines, lakes, rivers |
| Diet | Fish | Fish |
| Behavior | Dives from surface; swims underwater | Plunge-dives from flight |
As you can see from the table, while cormorants and pelicans occupy similar aquatic habitats and eat primarily fish, there are distinct differences between them when it comes to size, physical features, and fishing behaviors.
Appearance
The most noticeable difference between cormorants and pelicans is their size. Pelicans are much larger birds, with some species having wingspans over 9 feet wide. The largest cormorants only reach about 3 feet in length.
Cormorants have long, thin necks and slender, pointed bills that hook slightly at the end. The bill of a cormorant is ideal for catching slippery fish. Pelicans have very short, thick necks in comparison. But their most distinctive feature is their huge bill with an expandable throat pouch underneath. The pelican’s massive bill and pouch allow it to scoop up large amounts of fish-filled water and then drain the water before swallowing its prey.
Plumage and coloring is also quite different between the two types of birds. Cormorants have predominantly black or gray feathers, sometimes with white patches. Pelicans have white, pink, or gray plumage often accented with black markings. Some pelican species also have colorful pouches or facial markings. Overall, pelicans tend to have more vivid and variegated plumage than the subdued cormorants.
Behavior and Habitat
Cormorants and pelicans share many common habitats, as both birds live near water and dive in to catch fish. However, pelicans tend to inhabit warmer ocean coasts, tropical waters, and inland freshwater lakes more often than cormorants. Cormorants thrive in colder environments like northern coastlines, wetlands, and marshes. They also range farther inland, commonly perching on trees or manmade structures when not fishing. Pelicans are less likely to venture so far from the ocean shore.
The fishing techniques of the two birds also differ. Cormorants dive straight down from the water’s surface and swim underwater to pursue prey at depth. Their streamlined bodies and pointy bills allow them to slice through the water efficiently while hunting. Pelicans plunge from flight, crashing onto the water belly-first to trap fish in their pouches. Pelicans cannot dive and swim like cormorants do. After surfacing, pelicans drain the water from their bill pouches before swallowing their catch.
Cormorants frequently fish alone or in small groups. But pelicans are very social and often forage communally in large flocks, working cooperatively to herd fish into shallower water. Cormorants spend more time perching individually on rocks or structures when not actively hunting, while gregarious pelicans tend to gather and roost colonially at night.
Classification and Species
Cormorants and pelicans belong to different taxonomic families. Cormorants comprise the Phalacrocoracidae family. Pelicans make up the Pelecanidae family.
There are around 40 recognized species of cormorants in the world. Some common cormorant species include:
- Great cormorant
- Double-crested cormorant
- Pelagic cormorant
- Red-faced cormorant
The 8 living species of pelicans are:
- American white pelican
- Brown pelican
- Pink-backed pelican
- Spot-billed pelican
- Australian pelican
- Great white pelican
- Dalmatian pelican
- Peruvian pelican
Pelicans also have a wider global distribution than cormorants. Though some cormorant species live on every continent except Antarctica, they primarily inhabit coastlines of North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. More pelican species are found farther inland in Africa and South America.
Conclusion
In summary, cormorants and pelicans may occupy similar aquatic habitats and ecological niches, but they are fundamentally different types of birds. Pelicans are noticeably larger in size, have more vivid plumage, very distinctive huge bills with throat pouches, plunge dive for fish, and tend to be more social. Cormorants are smaller, mostly black-colored divers that swim underwater to catch prey alone or in small groups near shorelines and inland waters. They belong to separate taxonomic families and have distinct species around the world. So while they both eat fish, their size, appearance, and fishing techniques clearly set pelicans and cormorants apart.
