| Double-crested cormorant | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Phalacrocorax auritus |
This is a very common and widespread species. It breeds mainly on the coasts, nesting on the ground or in trees, but also increasingly inland.
It feeds on the sea and fresh water lakes and rivers. It winters anywhere along the coasts that is well-supplied with fish.
This is a large black bird (29"-36"), with a long tail and yellow throat-patch.
The white double head crest is seen for a short period during breeding season. It is duller in eastern birds.
Like all cormorants, the Double-crested dives to find its prey. It spends long periods standing with wings outstretched to allow them to dry, since it is not fully waterproofed.
This species will migrate from the coldest parts of its range, such as eastern Canada, and has occurred in Europe as a very rare vagrant, for example in Great Britain, Ireland and the Azores.
Folk names: Crow-duck, Farallon Cormorant, Florida Cormorant, lawyer, shag, Taunton turkey.
† Phalacrocorax: Latinized Greek for phalakros (bald) and kora (raven); auritus: Latin for eared.