
The size of a small goose with a long neck and moderately long square tail. Rides much lower in water than waterfowl because feathering is less water-repellent. The bill is rather thin and has a slight hook at the tip. Gets its name from two rows of lateral crown feathers that are only present during the breeding season. Adults appear mostly black from distance, but show silvery and green iridescence from close range. Hatch-year birds are dusky brown above and vary from medium earthy brown to near white below. Bare skin around the base of the bill, and throat pouch is yellow-orange in all ages. Bill varies from nearly all yellow-orange in young birds to mostly dusky with some yellow at the base of the lower mandible on adults. The similar Neotropic Cormorant is smaller, with a longer tail and more limited facial skin bordered by white.
Length: 75 (cm) Wingspan: 130 (cm)
Voice:
Low grunts given at nesting colonies, but mostly silent.
Habitat:
Coastal areas, estuaries, major rivers, reservoirs and lakes, occasionally found on smaller ponds.
Behavior:
Flies with a somewhat crooked neck; alternates between flapping and gliding, gives the appearance of flying "uphill." Since their feathers are not water-repellent, they often sit with wings outstretched to dry.
Feeding:
Sometimes gathers in large semi-organized fishing flotillas where birds appear to be herding fish. May eat insects and amphibians too.
Field Notes
Expanded Life History
Feed Ecology And Diet | Contribute Content |
Nesting Habits | Contribute Content |
Migration Status | Contribute Content |
Conservation Status | Contribute Content |
Local Sites to Spot | Contribute Content |
Abundance Status | Contribute Content |
Adult Male Description | Contribute Content |
Adult Female Description | Contribute Content |
ITIS Taxonomic Number | Contribute Content |
Sonogram | Contribute Content |
Courtship | Contribute Content |
Reproductive Characteristics | Contribute Content |
Relationship to Humans | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Size & Shape | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Color & Pattern | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Habitat | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Behavior | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Wingspan | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Weight | Contribute Content |
Breeding | Contribute Content |
Cool Facts | Contribute Content |
Local Knowledge | Contribute Content |
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Sightings
Date | Submitted By | Count |
---|---|---|
09/25/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/26/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/26/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/05/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/05/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/05/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
05/08/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
05/08/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
04/24/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
04/24/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
04/17/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
04/17/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
04/17/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
04/08/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
04/08/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
Recent Activity
Activity | Date & Time |
---|---|
Sundee Meyer added Double-crested Cormorant to their Floyd Lamb smart list | 12/04/2012 at 7:18PM |
Jackson Scheerer added Double-crested Cormorant to their Horicon Marsh smart list | 7/17/2012 at 6:11PM |
Keith K. added Double-crested Cormorant to their Sauvie Island smart list | 3/11/2012 at 9:36PM |
Grant Canterbury added Double-crested Cormorant to their Clackamette Park smart list | 11/20/2011 at 5:05PM |
Jacob Parks added Double-crested Cormorant to their Tillamook Bay smart list | 11/02/2011 at 12:58AM |
Dave Irons added Double-crested Cormorant to their Smith and Bybee Lakes, Multnomah Co., OR smart list | 9/17/2011 at 6:48PM |
Dan Mitchell added Double-crested Cormorant to their Crystal Springs Rhododendron Park, Portland, Orego smart list | 7/07/2011 at 8:34PM |
Dave Irons added Double-crested Cormorant to their End of 3rd St./Rainer, Columbia Co., OR smart list | 4/03/2011 at 10:04PM |