Bird
Double-crested Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritusAlso known as Double-crested Shag
Double-crested Cormorants are large dark waterbirds with long necks, hooked bills, and orange-yellow skin around the bill base. Breeding adults develop paired wispy crests, and flocks often rest with wings spread after diving for fish.
cormorantpursuit divercolonial waterbird
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPerch, shad, small catfish
Predators
- bald eagles
- great horned owls
- raccoons
ThreatsFishing-line entanglement, contaminants, persecution, colony disturbance, and changing fish populations
HabitatsLakes, rivers, reservoirs, estuaries, bays, rocky coasts, and nesting islands
Life spanOften ten to fifteen years, with some banded birds living beyond twenty years
Classification
- FamilyPhalacrocoracidae
- SpeciesPhalacrocorax auritus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Keep boats away from nesting colonies and do not disturb crowded shoreline roosts.
Responsible observation
- Identify: Note the orange throat skin and slight upward hook at the bill tip.
- Watch: Look for low heavy flight or a swimming bird riding deep in the water.
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