Family: Phalacrocoracidae, Cormorants view all from this family

Description 25-30" (64-76 cm). The smallest and most delicate of the Pacific cormorants. Glossy black, with dark bill, long, slender neck held out straight in flight, head no wider than neck, and red throat pouch. Breeding birds have bold white spot on each flank. At close range 2 crests, fore and aft, are visible. Immature birds dark brown, with same proportions as adults. Other coastal cormorants are bulkier, with slower wingbeats.

Habitat Offshore and inshore waters. Nests on sea cliffs and rocky islands.

Nesting 3-7 chalky bluish eggs in a nest of seaweed, feathers, and other debris. Nests are used year after year and may grow quite large.

Range Breeds from Bering Sea south to northern Baja California. Winters south from southern Alaska. Also in northeastern Asia.

Voice   Groaning and hissing calls around breeding colonies.

Discussion The Pelagic Cormorant feeds mainly on fish, which it pursues both close to shore and far out at sea. It also takes crabs and other crustaceans. To catch this prey it dives deeply; birds have been taken in fishing nets at depths of 180 feet (55 meters). This species' small size enables it to spring directly from the water, rather than paddling along the surface as other cormorants do.