Double-crested Cormorant vs Polar bear

Phalacrocorax auritus compared with Ursus maritimus

Key Differences

• Double-crested Cormorant is Least Concern while Polar bear is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Double-crested Cormorant	Polar bear
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Aves (Birds)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Suliformes (Suliformes)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Phalacrocoracidae	Ursidae (Bears)
Genus	Phalacrocorax	Ursus (Bears)
Species	Phalacrocorax auritus	Ursus maritimus

Evolutionary Relationship

Double-crested Cormorant and Polar bear share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Double-crested Cormorant

LC — Least Concern

Polar bear

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Double-crested Cormorant	Polar bear
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	25 years
Average Length	—	2.4 m
Average Weight	—	450.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Double-crested Cormorant

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (5 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Colombia).

Polar bear

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.

Polar bear

The largest land carnivore on Earth, polar bears can exceed 700 kg and are found across Arctic sea ice from Canada to Russia. Highly specialized marine mammals that rely on sea ice to hunt ringed and bearded seals. Excellent swimmers capable of covering vast distances in open water. Listed as Vulnerable, with populations under severe pressure from rapid Arctic sea ice loss due to climate change.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway