Why does the great cormorant have webbed feet instead of talons?

The great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) has fully webbed feet connecting all four toes, which makes it an exceptionally strong swimmer and diver. Unlike raptors with gripping talons, cormorants use their webbed feet as paddles to propel themselves underwater while hunting fish. This adaptation is clearly visible in the image as the bird lifts off the water surface.

How can this Photo be used?

Licensed for commercial use, this stock photo suits nature conservation campaigns, environmental organizations, and educational content around urban ecology. At over 49 megapixels, it scales to large-format print such as exhibition posters or calendars, and works equally well for digital applications in magazines, apps, or social media focused on wildlife and city nature.

What mood does this Photo convey?

The frozen takeoff moment creates a sense of immediacy: wet talons just above the water surface, the splash below still in motion. There is no idyll here, just raw action, the energy of an animal captured in a fraction of a second. The blue light of the lake amplifies the contrast against the cormorant's dark plumage.

What equipment was used to capture this Photo?

Shot with the Sony Alpha 1 (ILCE-1) and the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary: the 50-megapixel full-frame sensor delivers 8640 x 5760 pixels, resolving every individual water droplet clinging to the cormorant's talons. The Alpha 1's fast phase-detect AF is what makes freeze-frame captures like this takeoff reliably achievable.

What visual style or trend does this Photo represent?

Urban ecology and city wildlife are growing as visual themes, reflecting a broader societal interest in nature within metropolitan environments. High-speed animal captures showing a specific moment of action align with the demand for authentic, documentary-style imagery over staged nature aesthetics. This photo addresses both directions simultaneously.

Bird taking flight over Lake Tegel, Berlin

Name: Bird taking flight over Lake Tegel, Berlin
Brand: Kataloop
Price: 16 EUR
Availability: InStock

50% discount for agency clients, forever.

One project, a lifelong discount. Realize your next website or another project with us and get 50% off all stock media you license in the future.

Go to services

Bird taking flight over Lake Tegel, Berlin

Kataloop stock photo no.

3622356

8640

5760

29418528

SONY ILCE-1

100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Contemporary 020

Cart

Your cart is empty.

Something went wrong, please try again later.

Bird taking flight over Lake Tegel, Berlin

Select your license:

Why does the great cormorant have webbed feet instead of talons?

How can this photo be used?

What mood does this photo convey?

What equipment was used to capture this photo?

What visual style or trend does this photo represent?

Blurred forest with abstract tree patterns

Majestic peacock displaying vibrant plumage

Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline, New York City

Scenic street view with mountain backdrop

Outdoor cafe table with pink tulips

Tree lizard camouflaged in natural habitat

Vibrant red tropical plant with delicate flowers

Blue church bell tower against clear sky

Traveler at Parque Nacional Cahuita, Limón, Costa Rica

Grilled meat skewers at Ranong street food stall

City buses in urban setting with skyscrapers

Elegant tulip bouquet in glass vase

25 de Abril Bridge Spanning the Tagus River in Lisbon

Sea foam from breaking waves on sandy shore

Scenic view of El Torcal de Antequera limestone formations

Helmet urchin on rocky shore with ocean spray

Casa da Música, Porto: modern architecture landmark

Majestic peacock displaying vibrant plumage

Mandarin ducks at Charlottenburg Palace gardens, Berlin

Sunset over pier with thatched roof shelter

Seven Colored Earth Geopark, Chamarel, scenic landscape

Man wading in Kings River on a sunny day

Aerial view of West Bay skyline in Doha

Men facing crashing waves at La Roche qui Pleure

50% discount for agency clients, forever.

Cart

Cookie settings

Select your license:

50% discount for agency clients, forever.