The Great Pied Cormorant is distributed in New Zealand (the nominate race) and Australia (the race P. v. hypoleucos). It is found both on the coast and on inland water bodies.

It is the largest white-breasted cormorant in Australia. It has a long grey bill with yellow skin between the bill and the eye and dull red skin on the chin. The eye is blue and it has a black mark on the flank.

In photo 2 there is a Little Pied Cormorant P. melanoleucos in the background.