Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

 

Synonyms: Nannopterum auritus

 

 

Phalacrocorax auritus is widely distributed across North America, from the Aleutian Islands and Alaska to eastern Canada, and south to Mexico, Cuba, and Florida. It departs from the coldest parts of its breeding range in winter (Map). This species is found along sea coasts, at islands, estuaries, lakes, rivers, swamps, reservoirs and ponds. Double-crested Cormorant is a large waterbird, mostly black, with a hooked bill, long neck, and webbed feet. Gular skin is yellow or orange. A double crest of black and white feathers is present early in the nesting season. This species nests in colonies (sometimes numbering thousands), usually in cliffs, trees or on the ground in remote islands; often alongside other colonial waterbirds, e.g., herons, gulls, or terns. Nests are built from sticks, aquatic plants and other bulky materials. Clutch 1-7 eggs, though most commonly 3-4. Eggs are pale blue and unmarked, although eggs with “mottled” or “speckled” appearance are occasionally found (e.g., see Patrikeev et al. 2009). Incubation lasts 25-28 days. The young leave ground nests at 3-4 weeks and may form crèches; in tree nests or cliffs, young may remain longer (6-8 weeks), until capable of flight. Phalacrocorax auritus feeds almost exclusively on fish, diving down to 7-8 m; crustaceans are eaten occasionally.

 

		3969 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Lake Ontario Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D32576 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Georgian Bay Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		3964 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Lake Ontario Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D51380 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus); adult, young Laguna Yalahau Quintana-Roo, Mexico Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		3619 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Lake Ontario Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		3963 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Lake Ontario Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D32575 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Georgian Bay Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		3620 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Lake Ontario Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		3952 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Lake Ontario Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D51384 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Laguna Yalahau Quintana-Roo, Mexico Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D32573 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Georgian Bay Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		3649 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus); crèche Presqu'ile Provincial Park Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D51385 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus); young Laguna Yalahau Quintana-Roo, Mexico Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		3648 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus); crèche Presqu'ile Provincial Park Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		3652 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Presqu'ile Provincial Park Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		3621 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus); nestlings Lake Ontario Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		3622 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus); nestlings Lake Ontario Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		4016 Nests of Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Georgian Bay Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		4018 Nest of Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Georgian Bay Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		5407 Nest of Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Lake Superior Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D28245 Nest of Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Georgian Bay Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D28133 Nest of Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Georgian Bay Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
Additional nests and clutches of Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) could be viewed here.
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