Picture of Planet Scott, planetscott.com
The Wild Wild World of
PLANET SCOTT
Travel and nature photos

Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)

Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)



Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Breeding Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

Class: Aves
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Common Name: Double-crested Cormorant
Genus: Nannopterum
Species Name: auritum

About The Double-crested Cormorant

A large (33 inches) waterbird, the Double-crested Cormorant is most easily identified by its black body and wings, long hooked bill, and orange chin patch. This species may be separated from the related Great Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax carbo) by that species’ larger size and large white chin patch, from the related Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) by that species smaller size and small white chin patch, and from the similar-looking Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) by that species’ longer neck and tail. Male and female Double-crested Cormorants are similar to one another in all seasons. The Double-crested Cormorant breeds in scattered locations along the Pacific coast of North America from Alaska to Baja California, along the Atlantic coast from Newfoundland to Florida, in the northern Great Plains, and in the West Indies. Southern breeding populations tend to be non-migratory, while northern breeding populations migrate south to the coasts, the interior southeastern U.S., and Mexico. Small numbers may breed or winter outside this species’ main range where habitat is appropriate. Double-crested Cormorants inhabit a variety of freshwater and saltwater wetland habitats, including rivers, lakes, marshes, and flooded grasslands. This species nests in trees surrounding bodies of water, on small islands, or on abandoned man-made structures near water. Double-crested Cormorants primarily eat small fish. On large bodies of water across the continent, Double-crested Cormorants may be seen floating low in the water, occasionally diving underwater for long periods while pursuing prey. Like many cormorants, this species may also be seen perched on rocks or snags with its wings outstretched and feathers ruffled. This species lacks the oily feather coating used by other water birds to keep dry and maintain buoyancy, and it has been suggested that this behavior allows the birds to dry their wings. Double-crested Cormorants are primarily active during the day.



Rights Holder: Unknown
Bibliographic Citation: Rumelt, Reid B. Phalacrocorax auritus. June-July 2012. Brief natural history summary of Phalacrocorax auritus. Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.

Trips Where Observed

Alaska
Chicago
Cuba
Mexico
Mexico to Panama
Mexico, Baja California Sur
Moving the Car
Newfoundland
San Francisco 2007
Texas

Member Lifelists

California
Illinois
Mexico
New Jersey
North America
San Francisco
United States
World

Sites Where Observed

Location
Date
Notes
4/14/2013
2/3/2024

Planetscott.com

Sitemap Hackers Challenge Contact
Website Powered By PlanetScott.com