cormorant
Hook-billed diver
A cormorant is a large, dark waterbird with a long neck and hooked bill, found near coasts and inland waters worldwide.
Cormorants dive to catch fish and are often seen perched with wings spread to dry—their feathers lack the waterproofing of most aquatic birds.
In some Asian cultures, trained cormorants have been used for fishing.
The word sometimes suggests greed or voracity: a cormorant appetite for wealth.
Of the open sea
- ornithologyScientific study of birds
- avianOf or concerning birds
- migrationMovement to new territory
- nestingMaking a dwelling
colonies · plumage · waterfowl · wingspan · beak · preen · flock · rookery
Entering water deliberately
- underwaterBelow the surface
- swimmingLocomotion through water
- plungeSudden steep descent
- buoyancyFluid's upward resistance
freshwater · saltwater · wetlands · estuary · lagoon · submerged · waterbird · depth
Greedy excess in consumption
- greedExcessive desire for wealth
- voraciousExtremely eager to consume
- MiltonBaroque English verse master
- heraldryStudy of armorial bearings
sinister · omen · appetite · insatiable · literary · medieval · ravenous · devouring
Of the shoreline
- cliffsSteep natural rock walls
- estuaryTidal mixing zone
- pierWaterfront landing structure
- dockMooring structure at water's edge
breakwater · jetty · mangrove · harbor · wharf · buoy · sandbar
Deeply black, like darkness
- ebonyDense dark tropical wood
- jetForced fluid stream
- sleekSmooth and elegant
- iridescentShowing shifting spectral colors
pelagic
Of the open sea
- ornithologyScientific study of birds
- avianOf or concerning birds
- migrationMovement to new territory
nesting · colonies · plumage · waterfowl · wingspan · beak · preen · flock · rookery · guano
diving
Entering water deliberately
- underwaterBelow the surface
- swimmingLocomotion through water
- plungeSudden steep descent
buoyancy · freshwater · saltwater · wetlands · estuary · lagoon · submerged · waterbird · depth · surfacing
gluttony
Greedy excess in consumption
- greedExcessive desire for wealth
- voraciousExtremely eager to consume
- MiltonBaroque English verse master
heraldry · sinister · omen · appetite · insatiable · literary · medieval · ravenous · devouring · emblematic
coastal
Of the shoreline
dock · breakwater · jetty · mangrove · harbor · wharf · buoy · sandbar
inky
Deeply black, like darkness
iridescent · glossy · crest · juvenile · immature
leash
Animal restraint cord
- traditionalFollowing long-held customs
- trainedTaught a skill
- fishermanOne who catches aquatic creatures
- birdsrobin, crow, eagle, owl, duck
- AlaskaFairbanks, Juneau, Denali, Sitka, Kodiak
- Australian wildlifekangaroo, koala, platypus, echidna, wombat
- British Wildlifered deer, badgers, grey squirrel, foxes, otter
- coastal wildlifepelican, grey seal, seagull, gull, sandpiper
- Eurasian wildlifeSiberian tiger, giant panda, red panda, snow leopard, Asian elephant