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    Pelagic Cormorant Identification

    Pelagic Cormorant Breeding adult
    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, 2016
    Pelagic Cormorant Breeding adult
    Breeding adult

    In flight, breeding birds show white patches on the lower flanks.

    © Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 31, 2016
    Pelagic Cormorant Nonbreeding adult
    Nonbreeding adult

    © Brian L Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 04, 2012
    Pelagic Cormorant Nonbreeding adult
    Nonbreeding adult

    Large, slender waterbird with a thin neck and small bill. Nonbreeding birds are blackish overall.

    © Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 03, 2015
    Pelagic Cormorant Breeding adult
    Breeding 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, 2017
    Pelagic Cormorant Breeding adults and juveniles
    Breeding adults and juveniles

    © Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 01, 1998
    Pelagic Cormorant Breeding adult
    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, 2017
    Pelagic Cormorant Immature and nonbreeding adult
    Immature 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, 2015
    Pelagic Cormorant Breeding adult
    Breeding adult

    © Brian L Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 12, 2012
    Pelagic Cormorant Adults with Double-crested Cormorant
    Adults with Double-crested Cormorant

    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, 2017
    Pelagic Cormorant Nonbreeding adult
    Nonbreeding adult

    © Brian L Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 22, 2012
    See more images of this species in Macaulay Library

    Compare with Similar Species

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    Adult Description

    • Large, dark water bird; small to medium-sized cormorant.
    • Long body and long, slender neck.
    • Slender bill is blunt or hooked at tip.

    Immature Description

    Immature brownish and lacks crests or glossy plumage of adult.
    Relative Size

    Relative Sizebetween crow and goosebetween crow and goose
    Measurements
    • Both Sexes
      • Length: 20.1-29.9 in (51-76 cm)
      • Weight: 48.3-86.1 oz (1370-2440 g)
      • Wingspan: 39.4-47.6 in (100-121 cm)

    Species in This Family

    Cormorants and Shags(Order: Suliformes, Family: Phalacrocoracidae)

    Brandt's CormorantBrandt's Cormorant
    Pelagic CormorantPelagic Cormorant
    Great CormorantGreat Cormorant
    Neotropic CormorantNeotropic Cormorant
    Double-crested CormorantDouble-crested Cormorant

    Browse Species in This Family

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