Common Cormorant v Shag

One of the trickiest id challenges for me when I re-started birding was telling the difference between a Common Cormorant and a Shag. It’s obvious when you know it – especially when you’ve seen hundreds of them in different lighting and different plumages – but not when you’re starting out.

I was delighted to get this photograph of a Common Cormorant and a Shag together as I walked the coast of Papa Westray in Orkney with my friend Martin.

Now, which one is which?