Red-faced Cormorant Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesRed-faced Cormorant
Breeding adult
Small cormorant with slender bill and red facial skin. Breeding adults have two short crests and square white patches on the flanks.
© Phillip Edwards / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 18, 2016Breeding adult
Small cormorant with pale bill, blue at base. Breeding adults are glossy purple-green, with short crests on the forecrown and hindcrown.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 29, 2013Nests on cliffs, typically alone or in small groups rather than in large colonies. Note extensive red facial skin and pale bill.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 23, 2002Not all videos have sound
Breeding adult
Small cormorant of the North Pacific with small, light-colored bill, red facial skin, and fairly thick neck. Breeding adults have white flank patches.
© Eric VanderWerf / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 06, 2015Breeding adult
Breeding adults have vivid red facial skin, glossy sheen to head, neck, and body, light yellow bill with bluish base, and two short crests.
© Gerrit Vyn / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 26, 2014Immature
Small cormorant of the North Pacific. Immatures have slender, light-colored bill and lack the bright facial skin and glossy plumage of adults.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryHokkaido, December 28, 2013Breeding adult (with Pelagic Cormorants)
Red-faced Cormorant (center) is slightly larger and more thick-set than Pelagic Cormorants, with brighter facial skin and pale bill.
© Brian SullivanAlaska, May 18, 2012Breeding adult (with Pelagic Cormorant)
Red-faced Cormorant (second from left) is slightly larger and more thick-set than Pelagic Cormorants, with brighter facial skin and pale bill.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 17, 2012Similar SpeciesPelagic Cormorant
Breeding adult
Pelagic Cormorants are slightly smaller and more slender than Red-faced Cormorants, with a very slender, dark bill.
© Jesse Amesbury / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 16, 2016Similar SpeciesDouble-crested Cormorant
Breeding adult
Double-crested Cormorants are larger and heavier bodied than Red-faced Cormorants, with a thicker bill, larger head, and thicker neck. Double-crested is commonly seen in inland North America, whereas Red-faced occurs only along rocky coasts of the North Pacific.
© Anonymous / Macaulay LibraryWashington, April 11, 2017Similar SpeciesDouble-crested Cormorant
Breeding adult
Double-crested Cormorants are larger than Red-faced, with a large bill and thick neck usually held bent in flight. Double-crested lacks the white flank patch of breeding Red-faced.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, April 28, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Cormorants and Shags(Order: Suliformes, Family: Phalacrocoracidae)
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