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Brandt's Cormorant

Phalacrocorax penicillatus ORDER: SULIFORMES FAMILY: PHALACROCORACIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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A large cormorant of the Pacific Coast, the Brandt's Cormorant is found only in marine environments.

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Appearance

Gull-like
Gull-like
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Large, dark water bird.
  • Long body and long neck.
  • Medium-sized bill is blunt or hooked at tip.
  • Pale patch at base of bill.
  • Bill dark.

Immature Description

Juvenile brownish black with tan on underparts, lightest on lower breast where it forms a pale "V" at the border of breast and neck.

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Field MarksHelp

  • Adult nonbreeding
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    Brandt's Cormorant

    Adult nonbreeding
    • © 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology, La Jolla, California
  • Adult breeding (top), nonbreeding (bottom)
    Zoom In

    Brandt's Cormorant

    Adult breeding (top), nonbreeding (bottom)
    • Throat patch bright blue in breeding season, then fades
    • © 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology, California