Thursday 15 November 2012

Creature Feature: Double Crested Cormorant


The Double Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds and is a common visitor to the Bay of Fundy.  This cormorant is a larger bird and ranges in size from 70-90 cm long with all black plumage, except during mating season when it gains a double crest of black and white feathers.  It has a patch of yellow-orange skin near its bill, which is long and fairly narrow with a hooked end.  These fishing birds are commonly seen standing on docks, tree limbs or rocks with their wings out-stretched to dry.  They are a solid, heavy-boned bird built for diving in the water, in search of fish.  They fly in v-shaped patterns and can be found in many areas of North America.
 
 
Here a Double Crested Cormorant dries his wings after fishing.
 
 
 
Double Crested Cormorants are a solidly built bird that rides low in the water while swimming.
 

 
A close-up of the yellow-orange skin patch and hooked beak.
 
 
click here to hear the  Double Crested Cormorant Sound

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