"Double-Crested Cormorant" (Phalacrocorax auritus)

	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost (juvenille cormorant)
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost (jouvenille cormorant)
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost Cormorants and their young in nests...distant view. This photo was taken in the summer, tree leaves hide nests.
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost Cormorants and their young in nests. This photo taken in winter, when nests are more visible without tree leaves.

Cormorants and Anhingas are frequently confused...the Anhinga's beak is "pointed" for spearing fish, while the Cormorant's beak is "hooked" for grasping its prey. There are many different types of cormorants worldwide. The type found in Florida is called the "Double-crested" Cormorants because of small tufts of feathers that appear on the head during the breeding season.

Cormorants are excellent divers, using feet for propulsion. They are able to stay at 5-25 feet below the water surface for 30-70 seconds. To dry off, it strikes an erect pose with wings outstretched, facing the sun.


Size: 33"

Male: Large all-black water bird with long snake-like neck. A long yellow orange bill with a hooked tip.

Female: Same as male.

Nest: Platform, in colony; male and female build; 1 brood per year.

Eggs: 3-4; bluish white, unmarked.

Incubation: 25-29 days; female and male incubate.

Fledging: 37-42 days; female and male feed young.

Migration: Complete, to southern states, Mexico and Central America, winters in most of Florida.

Food: Small fish, aquatic insects.

Voice: Deep guttural grunt.


My personal notes...
It's amazing to watch these birds swim "deep under" the water for fish, and are able to hold their breath for quite some time. I think they look really awkward when out of water...and not the most attractive bird. One thing to note about the difference of Cormorants and Anhingas....when swimming..the Anhinga usually only has its neck out of the water...whereas, the Cormorant shows most of its upper body out of the water while swimming.

I had the opportunity to see a whole flock of cormorants building their nests in trees on a small island in Lake Eola here in Orlando, Florida. It was amazing to see so many of these interesting birds all at one time! Large round nests built with long sticks...some sticks were nearly as long as the body of the cormorants...interesting. The cormorants are really noisy in their nests.





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