Pelagic Cormorant Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
Brandt's Cormorant
Breeding adult
Brandt's Cormorants are larger than Pelagic Cormorants. Breeding birds have a blue skin patch while breeding Pelagics's have a smaller red skin patch on the chin.
© Matt Davis | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 14, 2017Similar Species
Brandt's Cormorant
Juvenile
Juvenile Brandt's Cormorants have a pale neck and breast whereas juvenile Pelagic Cormorants have a dark neck and breast.
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 02, 2015Similar Species
Double-crested Cormorant
Breeding adult
Double-crested Cormorants are larger than Pelagic Cormorants with an orangish patch around the bill that Pelagic Cormorants do not have.
© Mark Sawyer | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 10, 2017Similar Species
Double-crested Cormorant
Juvenile
Double-crested Cormorants are larger than Pelagic Cormorants. Juveniles have a pale neck and breast whereas juvenile Pelagics have a dark neck and breast.
© Jane Mann | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, February 28, 2017Similar Species
Red-breasted Merganser
Breeding male
Red-breasted Mergansers are smaller than Pelagic Cormorants with a more compact body and a red bill.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, March 04, 2014Similar Species
Red-breasted Merganser
Female/nonbreeding male
Red-breasted Mergansers are smaller than Pelagic Cormorants with a more compact body and a red bill.
© Saurabh Sawant | Macaulay LibraryMaharashtra, December 23, 2016Main Species
Pelagic Cormorant
Breeding adult
Large, slender waterbird—but smaller than most other cormorants, with a slender neck and thin bill. Black overall with a green sheen on the body.
© Jesse Amesbury | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 16, 2016Breeding adult
In flight, breeding birds show white patches on the lower flanks.
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 31, 2016Nonbreeding adult
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 04, 2012Not all videos have sound
Nonbreeding adult
Large, slender waterbird with a thin neck and small bill. Nonbreeding birds are blackish overall.
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 03, 2015Breeding adult
Breeding adults have white patches on the flanks, a greenish sheen on the body, a purplish sheen on the head, and a red chin patch.
© Janet Kelly | Macaulay LibraryOregon, April 29, 2017Breeding adults and juveniles
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 01, 1998Not all videos have sound
Breeding adult
Breeding birds look dark overall but in the right light the body has a green sheen and the head a purplish sheen.
© David Badke | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, March 14, 2017Immature and nonbreeding adult
Slender waterbird with a small head, thin neck, and thin bill. Immature and nonbreeding birds are dark overall.
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 07, 2015Breeding adult
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 12, 2012Not all videos have sound
Adult
Breeds and roosts along rocky coasts and forages in coastal waters, never far from land. Smaller with a more slender neck and thinner bill than Double-crested Cormorant (center right, with light brown chest).
© Bernardo Alps | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 10, 2017Nonbreeding adult
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 22, 2012Not all videos have sound
Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Cormorants and Shags(Order: Suliformes, Family: Phalacrocoracidae)
Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.