ID Keys: Black overall, smallest cormorant, dark thin bill, breeding
adults have dark-red gular patch on face
The
Pelagic Cormorant is the smallest and lightest of the North American
cormorants. They breed from California all the way to the Aleutian
Islands and west coast of Alaska, and can usually be found in most of the
same range in winter, provided it is ice-free. They are very similar
to the Red-faced Cormorant, a species found just in the Alaska portion of
the Pelagic Cormorant's range.
Habitat
Breeds on offshore islands and rocky cliffs. Outside of the nesting period, they are usually found relatively close to the coastline, although occasionally they can be found well out to sea.
Diet
The Pelagic Cormorant feeds mainly on small fish such as sculpins, sand lance, and rockfish captured during underwater dives along rocky coasts. It also eats crustaceans, marine worms, and other small marine invertebrates gathered near the seafloor and among kelp beds.
Behavior
The Pelagic Cormorant is an agile diving seabird that forages underwater for fish and marine invertebrates along rocky coastlines and kelp beds. It often rests on cliffs, rocks, docks, or pilings with wings spread to dry after diving and is usually seen alone or in small groups rather than large flocks.
Nesting
Breeds in colonies, but typically smaller colonies than other West Coast cormorant species. The nest is built of grasses, seaweed, and other vegetative material, cemented together with their own waste. Females usually lay between 3 and 5 eggs, and both parents help to incubate them. Upon hatching, both parents feed the nestlings, through regurgitation of fish.
Song
The Pelagic Cormorant is usually quiet away from nesting colonies but gives low guttural croaks, grunts, and rasping calls during courtship and territorial interactions. Nesting colonies can be noisy with repeated growls and harsh vocal exchanges among adults and begging young.
Migration
Pelagic Cormorants are found year-round in most of their breeding range, but withdraw in winter from the northernmost parts of their range along the western coast of Alaska. Other birds also obviously move southward for the winter, as birds are found in greater numbers in southern California and Baja California in winter than during the breeding season.
In range, most likely to be confused with the Red-faced Cormorant , Brandt's Cormorant , or Double-crested Cormorant. The Pelagic Cormorant is slimmer and more delicate than the Double-crested Cormorant and Brandt's Cormorant, with a thin bill, long tail, and glossy dark plumage often showing a greenish sheen. Red-faced Cormorant is very similar but has noticeably red bare facial skin around the bill and eye, while Brandt’s Cormorant is bulkier with a heavier bill and pale throat patch in breeding season. Double-crested Cormorants are larger overall with orange-yellow facial skin and a thicker neck and bill.
