A resident bird of Cyprus and Akamas peninsula. It lives exclusively in sea water, where it’s usually seen swimming on the surface, or flying low over the water, or sitting on rocky islets and the coastline. A characteristic silhouette on rocks, often with open held wings to dry up.

It’s usually seen as solitary or in small groups (especially at resting, roosting and breeding sites). In the Akamas peninsula it breeds in small numbers on a few islets. It feeds with fish caught after a dive from the sea surface. It’s a biggish bird, the adults being dark black, the young birds are paler (especially the belly).