Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

The Double-crested Cormorant (DCCO) is about 32" long and has a wingspan of about 52". Its genus phalakros is from Greek for bald, and korafor crow or raven. The family includes only cormorants of which thereare 30 in the world and 6 in North America. The species auritus isLatin for eared or crested and refers to the rarely seen tufts on thecrown.

It is the only cormorant likely to be seen inland. Both sexes areessentially alike: large, black, with a long tail. They have ayellow-orange throat patch year-round. First-year birds are brownabove, pale below, but usually palest on upper breast and neck. TheDCCO is distinguished from Brandt’s Cormorants by more buoyant flightand flying with a kinked neck. They can be seen soaring high, using aircurrents to gain altitude and then coasting on a long glide. They mayhave trouble taking off from land and water. They often need to runalong the water to gain speed.

The DCCO is found along either coast and on inland rivers and lakeswherever fish are plentiful. The birds feed by diving and swimmingunderwater, eating mostly fish. They may hold their wings out to dryafter diving in the water. They nest on rocky islands, cliffs facingwater, or stands of trees near water. The cormorants seen on freshwaterlakes in our area are usually seen only from about October to April.During the spring and summer they are at nesting areas.

The DCCO nest in colonies. The nest is a platform of sticks andseaweed lined with leafy twigs and grass, and placed in a tree or onthe ground. There are 2-7 pale blue eggs. Incubation is 24-29 days andthe young fledge 35-42 days after hatching. The birds are silent awayfrom the nest, but at the nest they can give a variety of deep croaksand grunts.