Pretty Cormie
by Bryan Keil
Title
Pretty Cormie
Artist
Bryan Keil
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Cormorant in Breeding colors 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.
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.This species has dark-colored plumage with bare super-loral skin and gular skin that is yellow or orange. An adult in breeding plumage will be mostly black with the back and coverts being a dark grayish towards the center. Nuptial crests, for which the species is named, are either white, black or a mix of the two. These are located just above the eyes with the bare skin on the face of a breeding adult being orange. A non-breeding adult will lack the crests and have more yellowish skin around the face. The bill of the adult is dark-colored.[6] The Double-crested Cormorant is very similar in appearance to the larger Great Cormorant, which has a more restricted distribution in North America, mainly on the Canadian maritime provinces; it can, however, be separated by having more yellow on the throat and the bill.
The plumage of juvenile Double-crested Cormorants is more dark grey or brownish. The underparts of a juvenile are lighter than the back with a pale throat and breast that darkens towards the belly. As a bird ages, its plumage will grow darker. The bill of a juvenile will be mostly orange or yellowish.reeding occurs in coastal areas as well as near inland rivers and lakes. They build stick nests in trees, on cliff edges, or on the ground on suitable islands. They are gregarious birds usually found in colonies, often with other aquatic birds, and have a deep, guttural grunt call.This photo was taken in La Jolla California. Fine Art America watermark will not appear on purchased artwork.
Uploaded
May 5th, 2013
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Viewed 494 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/16/2024 at 7:54 PM
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Comments (7)
Don Columbus
Congratulations, your work is Featured in "A Birding Group - Wings" I invite you to place it in the group's "2020-2024 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!!
Don Columbus
Congratulations Bryan, your work is Featured in "Coastal Water Birds-Shore Birds" I invite you to place it in the group's "2017 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!!
William Tasker
Fabulous image, Bryan! I've never seen one in breeding colors before! Your beautiful and identified bird image has been featured by Wild Birds Of The World, a nature photography group. L/F
Don Columbus
Congratulations Bryan, your work is Featured in "Birds In Focus" I invite you to place it in the group's "2017 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L/Tweet
Lori Frisch
A wonderful capture!!! I saw Cormorants for the very first time at our Sweet Marsh this Spring!! :o)