Pelagic Cormorant Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesPelagic 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
Similar SpeciesBrandt'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 SpeciesBrandt'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 SpeciesDouble-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 SpeciesDouble-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 SpeciesRed-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 SpeciesRed-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, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Cormorants and Shags(Order: Suliformes, Family: Phalacrocoracidae)
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