Double-crested Cormorant

Overview

The Double-crested Cormorant is a common and widespread waterbird found on both coastal and inland waters across North America, easily recognized by its overall blackish plumage and bright orange-yellow throat skin. Its habit of perching with wings outstretched to dry is a familiar behavioral clue even at a distance.

The 'double-crested' name refers to small tufts of feathers that develop briefly on the head during the breeding season, which can be black or white depending on the population, though these are subtle and not always visible.

Double-crested Cormorant feathers are blackish and relatively unpatterned, typical of cormorants generally.

• Body feathers: Glossy black to blackish-brown overall, with a faint bronze or greenish sheen in good light.
• Throat and facial skin: Bright orange-yellow, though this is bare skin rather than feathers.
• Breeding crests: Small tufts of black or white feathers appear briefly on the head during the breeding season, varying by population.
• Compared to Great Cormorant: Double-crested Cormorant lacks the white throat patch and white flank patch of breeding Great Cormorants, and is generally a smaller-bodied bird with proportionately smaller feathers.

Adults are glossy blackish overall with a subtle bronze-green sheen, an orange-yellow throat patch of bare skin, and small breeding-season crest tufts on the head that can be black or white depending on the population. Sexes look alike. Juveniles are browner overall, especially on the neck and breast, gradually darkening to the glossier adult black plumage with maturity. Molt occurs on an annual cycle outside the peak breeding period.

Double-crested Cormorants are found on a wide range of waters across North America, including coastal bays, lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, showing considerable habitat flexibility compared to some more strictly marine cormorant species. Northern populations migrate south for the winter, while populations in milder regions may remain resident year-round.

This cormorant feeds by diving from the surface and pursuing fish underwater with strong swimming strokes, often foraging alone or in loose groups. Because its feathers are less waterproof than many waterbirds, it frequently perches with wings spread to dry after fishing bouts. Nesting occurs colonially in trees, on cliffs, or on the ground depending on location, with a clutch of several eggs. Calls are low grunts and croaks given mainly at breeding colonies.