CORMORANT kôr’ mə rənt (שָׁלָכְ, H8960; cormorant, all Eng. VSS. Elsewhere tr. pelican KJV. קָאַת, H7684, is tr. cormorant in Isaiah 34:11, pelican ASV; hawk RSV; and Zephaniah 2:14 pelican ASV; vulture RSVmg. uncertain). This is one of several birds about which little can be said. The tr. cormorant is most improbable, since the setting is a scene of desolation. Driver suggests owl, perhaps Scops owl. There is divided opinion about shalak, from a root meaning “to dart on its prey.” Some ancient VSS describe it as drawing up fish from the sea; this would certainly allow the tr. cormorant, of which two species visit Pal. regularly. By reason of size, quality and availability this is much more likely to be included in a food list than the fishing owl that Driver suggests. One or other species of cormorant is found almost all over the world, and they feed entirely on fish; they nest colonially in most unsanitary conditions.