Brandt's Cormorant

Brandt's Cormorant is a robust, colonial seabird found along the rocky Pacific coast of North America, well known for the striking cobalt-blue throat pouch adults display during courtship.

Appearance

Adults are dark brownish-black overall with a buffy-brown patch on the throat, and during the breeding season develop a vivid cobalt-blue throat pouch along with fine, wispy white plumes on the head and neck. Non-breeding birds lose the blue throat color and plumes, appearing plainer dark brown-black.

Key field marks

• Bulkier build and thicker bill than Pelagic Cormorant
• Buffy-brown throat patch, turning bright blue in breeding adults
• White plumes on the head and neck during courtship
• Forms large, dense breeding colonies on coastal rocks and cliffs

Similar species

Pelagic Cormorant is smaller and slimmer with a thin bill and small red (not blue) facial patch. Double-crested Cormorant has orange-yellow facial skin rather than the buffy-to-blue throat patch of Brandt's Cormorant, and generally occurs in a wider variety of habitats including freshwater.

Habitat and range

Brandt's Cormorants breed along the rocky Pacific coast of North America, from British Columbia south through California to Baja California, favoring offshore rocks, cliffs, and islands close to productive coastal waters.

Migration

Most populations are resident or make short-distance movements along the coast outside the breeding season, sometimes gathering in large non-breeding flocks on rocks and piers. The species depends heavily on nearshore upwelling zones that support abundant schooling fish.

Behavior

Brandt's Cormorants forage by diving and pursuing fish and squid underwater, often foraging in large flocks over schools of small fish concentrated by coastal upwelling, and readily forming dense mixed roosts with other seabirds.

Voice

Adults give low guttural grunts and croaks during breeding displays, generally silent otherwise.

Nesting and breeding

They nest in dense colonies on cliffs, offshore rocks, and islands, building a nest of grass, seaweed, and other plant material. Typically three to four eggs are laid, and colonies can number in the thousands where suitable habitat and food supply allow.