1940 photo of cormorants nesting on cliffs in La Jolla. Cormorants include about 40 species of aquatic birds. They nest in colonies around the shore, on trees, islets or cliffs. They are coastal rather than oceanic birds. The majority of species have dark feathers. The bill is long, thin and hooked. Their feet have webbing between all four toes. All species are fish-eaters, catching the prey by diving from the surface.