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Pelagic Cormorant - Phalacrocorax pelagicus

Characteristics
Range
Habitat
Diet
Life Cycle
Behavior
 Classification

 Phylum: Chordata
 Class: Aves
 Order: Pelecaniformes
 Family: Phalacrocoracidae
 Genus: Phalacrocorax

pelagic cormorant
ICUN Redlist - World Status: Least ConcernLeast Concern
    Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Ian Cruickshank cc logo
  Characteristics
pelagic cormorant The pelagic cormorant is smaller than other cormorants. It is about 25-30 inches in length and has glossy black feathers and a dark, curved bill and a long, slender neck. It holds its neck straight out when in flight. Breeding adults have a red face patch and a white patch on their flanks. Males and females look alike, although the male is slightly larger.

  Range
mapThe pelagic cormorant breeds from the Bering Sea south to northern Baja California. It winters south from southern Alaska. It is also found in  northeastern Asia.

  Habitat

The pelagic cormorant lives in both offshore and inshore waters. It nests on sea cliffs and rocky islands.

  Diet
The pelagic cormorant eats fish and crustaceans. It can dive to depths of over 100 feet to catch its prey.
  Life Cycle

The female lays three to seven eggs in a nest of seaweed, feathers and other debris. Nests can be quite large, often five or six feet high, and they are used year after year.

  Behavior
The pelagic cormorant can spring straight up out of the water and into the air. It often perches with its wings spread to dry them.

























 


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