The species mates for life and uses the same burrows each year. Aptly named owing to its complete inability to fly. Its wings are no more than vestigial appendages which appear to serve no useful purpose. Unmistakable when seen hanging its stubby wings out to dry after coming ashore. When in the water, the body is almost entirely submerged with just the snake-like head and neck visible.
Adults are black above and dark brown below, but look completely black when wet.
Juveniles are completely black. They have large, black webbed feet with very short sturdy black legs. The eyes are brilliant turquoise and the bill is long and strong, with a pronounced hook at the tip. The males are noticeably larger than the females. The flightless cormorant feeds on small fish, eels and octopus which it catches between 100 m of the shore.