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English: Phalacrocoracidae, Cormorants, Shags There are approximately 35 species of medium to large birds in this family. They are found in temperate and tropical environments around the world. Cormorants and shags live on lakes, rivers, marshes, swamps, and ocean shorelines. Most species are black with a bare face; a long neck; and a long, thin, hooked bill. Males and females look alike, but males are usually larger. Unlike most water birds, the feathers of the birds in this family don't have the waterproofing oil found in most water birds. Cormorants and shags dry their feathers by perching and holding out their wings! Cormorants and shags dive from the surface of the water for fish. In some countries in Asia, a fisherman has trained cormorants to catch fish for them! Cormorants and shags nest in colonies, and both the male and the female care for and feed the chicks. Cormorants do not have waterproof feathers. It turns out that waterproof feathers stink for diving, so instead, cormorants kept feathers that are easily waterlogged to help them sink and dive faster. This is why you’ll often see them with just their heads sticking out of the water because their feathers are waterlogged and weighing them down and you’ll also see them sitting on rocks with their wings spread out drying their wet feathers.