The family Phalacrocoracidae, commonly known as cormorants and shags, is a group of medium-to-large aquatic birds found worldwide, primarily in coastal and inland waters. They are excellent divers and fish hunters, using their webbed feet and streamlined bodies to pursue prey underwater. Most species have dark plumage, often with a metallic or glossy sheen, and some exhibit distinctive facial skin or crests during breeding season. Cormorants are highly social, nesting in colonies on cliffs, trees, or islands, and they often display cooperative feeding behaviors. Adapted for both swimming and flying, they play a significant ecological role in controlling fish populations and are culturally and economically important in some regions.