Bird Description

Locally quite common in rocky coastal areas. Very rare on freshwater. Often seen sitting on rocks and favored exposed perches. Hardy. Like other cormorants, a great fisherman, and can often be seen trying to swallow large fish. ID: Largest cormorant , 10% larger than DCCO with which it often mixes. Focus on head; appears thicker-necked and block-headed with fierce expression enhanced by pale gray bill, which is thicker and longer than in DCCO. Chin patch (gular/bare skin) yellow, small, and pointed contrasting with white throat. Young birds (1 year) have brown necks and whiter bellies (DCCO has the reverse pattern). 2-3-year-olds and nonbr adults (4 years) similar, with varying amounts of brown mixed with black feathers. Breeding adults appear shiny black (feathers have black border, paler centers), white head plumes and diagnostic white flank patch late winter/spring.