Pelagic Cormorant

The Pelagic Cormorant is a slender seabird of rocky North Pacific coastlines, generally the smallest and most delicate-looking cormorant found in its range. Despite its name, it is not truly pelagic in the sense of ranging far out to sea, staying instead close to rocky coastal habitats.

Appearance

Adults are glossy black overall with iridescent green and purple tones visible in good light, a notably thin bill compared to other cormorants, and red facial skin. Breeding adults show small crests on the crown and nape and scattered white flank patches.

Key field marks

• Slim build with a notably thin, delicate bill
• Glossy black plumage with green and purplish iridescence
• Red facial skin
• White flank patches and small head crests in breeding plumage
• Found close to rocky cliffs and shorelines rather than open water

Similar species

Compared to the larger, bulkier Brandt's Cormorant, the Pelagic Cormorant looks smaller and slimmer with a thinner bill and lacks the buffy throat patch of Brandt's Cormorant.

Habitat and range

Pelagic Cormorants are found along rocky coastlines and sea cliffs of the North Pacific, from Alaska and northeastern Siberia south to Baja California and northern China/Japan, closely tied to steep, undisturbed cliff habitat for nesting.

Most populations are resident or make only short-distance movements, remaining near coastal waters year-round.

Behavior

Pelagic Cormorants dive from the surface to forage close to rocky bottoms and kelp beds, catching small fish and invertebrates, typically in nearshore waters rather than far offshore despite the species' name.

Voice

They are largely silent away from the nest, giving occasional low guttural croaks near breeding sites.

Nesting and breeding

They nest on narrow ledges of steep sea cliffs, often in small, loosely spaced groups rather than dense colonies, building nests of seaweed and debris cemented with guano. Typically three to four eggs are laid on precarious cliff ledges.