Double-crested Cormorant

The Double-crested Cormorant is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It occurs along inland waterways as well as in coastal areas, and is widely distributed across North America, from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska down to Florida and Mexico. Measuring 70–90 cm in length, it is an all-black bird which gains a small double crest of black and white feathers in breeding season. It has a bare patch of orange-yellow facial skin. Five subspecies are recognized.

The Double-crested Cormorant is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Two Double-crested Cormorants and one fish Imperial Shags in Beagle Channel Great Cormorants nesting on an island at Walthamstow Reservoirs Cormorants and shags are medium-to-large seabirds. They range in size from the Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus), at as little as 45 cm (18 in) and 340 g (12 oz), to the Flightless Cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi), at a maximum size 100 cm (40 in) and 5 kg (11 lb). The recently-extinct Spectacled Cormorant (Phalacrocorax perspicillatus) was rather larger, at an average size of 6. More

The Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It occurs along inland waterways as well as in coastal areas, and is widely distributed across North America, from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska down to Florida and Mexico. Measuring 70–90 cm (28–35 in) in length, it is an all-black bird which gains a small double crest of black and white feathers in breeding season. It has a bare patch of orange-yellow facial skin. Five subspecies are recognized. More

The Double-crested Cormorant has a large range, estimated globally at 3,200,000 square kilometers. It is native to the nations of North America and many island nations and has been seen in various countries throughout Europe. This bird prefers wetlands and neritic or coastal marine ecosystems. The global population of this bird is estimated to be 1,100,000 to 2,200,000 individuals and it does not appear to meet population decline criteria that would necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. More

Double-crested Cormorant populations decreased in the 19th and early 20th centuries due to human persecution at nesting colonies. Protective legislation led to population recovery in the 1920s, until the impacts of pesticide use in the 1950s and 1960s caused numbers to drop once again. The National Audubon Society listed the cormorant as a species of special concern in 1972, the same year DDT was banned. More

The Double-crested Cormorant is the most numerous and widespread North American cormorant. It's also the only one that occurs in large numbers inland as well as on the coast. Growing in numbers throughout its range, this cormorant is increasingly being blamed for declines in sport fisheries and for devastating fish farms. More

The Double-crested Cormorant is found near rivers, lakes and along the coastline. It mainly eats fish and hunts by swimming and diving. Its feathers, like those of all cormorants, are not waterproof and it must spend time drying them out after spending time in the water. Once threatened by use of DDT, the numbers of this bird have increased markedly in recent years. More

double-crested cormorant has been estimated at about 372,000 pairs, or 852 colonies. Using values of one to four non-breeding birds per breeding pair yields an estimated total population of 1-2 million birds. The double-crested cormorant breeds widely throughout much of the coastal and interior portions of the United States. It has been found breeding in 46 of the 48 contiguous United States. However, it is not uniformly distributed across this broad area. More

The double-crested cormorant was described by Rene Primevere Lesson in 1831. Its scientific name is derived from the Greek words phalakros/φαλακρος "bald" and korax/κοραξ "raven", and the Latin auritus "eared", referring to its crests. Four subspecies are recognised: * P. a. albociliatus * P. a. auritus * P. a. cincinatus * P. a. More

Double-crested Cormorants sometimes reach heights of more than 6 feet. Listen to a recording (Real Audio) of the Double-crested Cormorant from the Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds. Double-crested Cormorant On many a coastline or inland waterway throughout North America, one can often see the distinctive silhouettes of Double-crested Cormorants More

Double-crested Cormorants are found on both coastal and inland waters. They often perch on rocks, sandbars, or pilings near fishing sites and forage at ponds, lakes, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, and open coastlines. Their breeding colonies are typically located on small rocky or sandy islands, or on the exposed tops of offshore rocks. They may also nest or roost in trees, especially when predators are present. More

Bent Life History for the Double-crested Cormorant - the common name and sub-species reflect the nomenclature in use at the time the description was written. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT PHALACROCORAX AURITUS AURITUS (Lesson) HABITS Among the passing flocks of wild fowl which migrate along the New England coast, one occasionally sees a flock of large black birds flying high in the air in a regular V-shaped formation like geese, or in single file, or rarely in an irregular bunch. More

Double-crested cormorants were abundant during the 1940s. However, the numbers of cormorants declined in the 1960s and 1970s. This decline was due to humans collecting eggs for food and destroying the birds' nests. Contaminants in the water and food supply are also believed to have lowered their numbers. In 1972 the double-crested cormorant was added to the list of species protected un- der the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. By the 1980s most cormorant populations began to increase. More

Double-crested Cormorants usually travel, feed, and roost in groups. In breeding season, cormorants gather in colonies and build nests out of sticks, twigs, feathers, grass, bark, and trash. They have been known to also include pebbles and parts of dead birds. Copyright, Pedro Genaro Rodriquez Nests are built on the ground, or in shrubs or trees. Female cormorants lay 3 to 5 bluish-green eggs. More

The double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) is a long-lived, colonial-nesting waterbird native to North America . One of 38 species of cormorants worldwide, and one of six species in North America , it is usually found in flocks, and is sometimes confused with geese or loons when on the water. Q. Where do they live? A. More

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS AND FISHERIES IN THE GREAT LAKES BASIN Fact Sheet - Introduction Natural History A Population Resurgence Issues Federal and State Responsibilities Management Activities What Comes Next? For Further Information - Introduction Flying low, in a straight line or ragged-V formation, large dark birds fly past, feathers rustling as they settle on the water. More

Double-crested Cormorants have a great impact on fish populations. Anglers insist that the cormorants tend to favor fish that are commonly regarded as prize catches. These species include walleye, yellow perch and smallmouth bass (Weseloh et al., 2002, p. 136). However, the vast majority of scientific studies have shown that the statistics that the anglers are basing their information on are somewhat skewed. More

The Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It occurs along inland waterways as well as in coastal areas and is widely distributed across North America. Once threatened by use of DDT, the numbers of this bird have increased markedly in recent years. Alternate common names of this bird include Crow-duck, Farallon Cormorant, Florida Cormorant, Lawyer, Shag, Devil Bird, and Taunton turkey. More

Double-crested CormorantThe double-crested cormorant is a little more than two feet long with a wingspan of about four feet. It has dark brown to black feathers, a long hooked bill with an orange throat pouch, a long tail, and webbed black feet. Adults have tufts of feathers over their eyes. Males and females look alike. Range Double-crested CormorantThe double-crested cormorant breeds from the coast of Alaska and Nova Scotia south to Mexico and the Bahamas. More

biomarker response in double-crested cormorants nesting in Green Bay and Lake Michigan, Wisconsin, USA. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 40:89-100. Dunning, Jr., J.B., ed. 1993. CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses. CRC Press, Ann Arbor. 371 pp. Ehrlich, P.R., D.S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye. 1988. The Birder's Handbook. Simon & Schuster, New York. 785 pp. Elliott, J.E., A.M. Scheuhammer, F.A. Leighton, and P.A. Pearce. 1992. Heavy metal and metallothionein concentrations in Atlantic Canadian seabirds. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. More

The Double-crested Cormorant is a seabird and can be seen along the coast and inland waterways. Its name is derived from the crests that appear during breeding season. The Crests are funky looking. They look like little wings growing out of either side of its head. The Cormorant dives for its dinner and then perches on a branch or rock holding its wings out to dry. More