ExploreBird

Double-crested Cormorant

Nannopterum auritum

The Double-crested Cormorant is a sleek bird that loves to dive underwater to catch fish. With its long neck and dark feathers, it can often be seen drying its wings after a swim.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Double-crested Cormorant is a large, dark water bird with a slender, hooked bill and an orange-yellow throat pouch. Adults develop small feather crests on their head during breeding season, making them distinct from other cormorants.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderSuliformesFamilyPhalacrocoracidaeGenusPhalacrocorax

Double-crested Cormorant

Interesting facts

Baby cormorants are born featherless and completely blind!

Their bones are denser than most birds', helping them sink effortlessly underwater!

They can eat up to 20% of their own weight in fish daily!

They cool down on hot days by rapidly fluttering their gular pouch!

Special abilities

Double-crested Cormorants have a clear nictitating membrane that covers their eyes like goggles, helping them see clearly while diving for fish.

Double-crested Cormorants spread their wings in the sun to dry because their feathers aren't fully waterproof, which helps regulate buoyancy.

Double-crested Cormorants have a large, stretchy gular pouch that helps them hold and swallow entire fish, even big ones!

Measurements & details

Length: 70-90 cm
Wingspan: 120-150 cm
Weight: 1.2-2.5 kg
Lifespan: 5-20 years
Top Speed: 55 km/h
Clutch Size: 1-7
Incubation: 25-30 days
Migration Distance: 3200 km

Diet & Feeding

These expert fishers use their sharp bills to catch a wide variety of fish and other small aquatic animals.

Primary Foods

perch
minnows
carp
eels
crustaceans

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Yellow Perch

Perca flavescens

A common prey fish in freshwater lakes and rivers.

hunts

White Perch

Morone americana

Frequently caught fish in estuarine and coastal areas.

eaten by

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Predatory bird known to take cormorant nestlings or adults.

Traits

Feathered

These are animals covered in soft, beautiful feathers that help them fly, stay warm, and even attract mates! Think of all the amazing birds you know.

Webbed Feet

These animals have special feet with skin between their toes, which helps them swim super fast!

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Coastal

Discover life found along the edges where land meets the sea! These habitats are always changing with the tides and waves, offering unique environments.

Carnivorous

Discover fierce hunters and clever predators that get all their energy from eating other animals. They play a vital role in keeping nature's balance.

Diurnal

Wake up with creatures that are most active during the day! They love the sunshine for finding food, playing, and exploring.

Keystone Species

Discover the hidden heroes of nature! These special species play an incredibly important role in their habitat, holding the entire ecosystem together like a crucial piece of a puzzle.

Migratory

Follow incredible journeys across the world! These animals travel far and wide at different times of the year, often to find better food or warmer places.