Double-crested Cormorant Photos

Photography by Terry Sohl

My Favorite: Double-crested Cormorants have a warm place in my heart, mostly because of the way other people think of them and how they're often mistreated. In parts of their range, particularly around the Great Lakes, they're thought of as pests, with active programs to try to cull numbers, as people think it's the cormorants who are eating all their fish (rather than our own mismanagement of fisheries, over-fishing, exotic species we introduce, etc.).

Beyond their unjust persecution, they're just fun to watch. A pretty common sight from spring through summer in Dakota, they're often seen in our state's waterways, diving down and seemingly more often than not, coming up with a fish after a successful dive. For what it's worth, the VAST majority of catches I've seen them make here are "junk" fish that fishermen wouldn't mind being controlled, particularly bullheads.

I have a couple of favorite photos of the species, one being photo #11 below, as the close portrait does a great job of showing off that wonderful, mystical eye of a Double-crested Cormorant. But I think my favorite is the one here from Wall Lake on April 18th, 2018. I like the pose showing the detail in the dark pliumage, the wonderful morning light, and especially, that great reflection off the water.

Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus


Double-crested Cormorant 1 October 15th, 2006 Madison Waterfowl Production Area, South Dakota	Double-crested Cormorant 2 August 8th, 2003 Lake Thompson, South Dakota	Double-crested Cormorant 3 July 18th, 2004 Below Oahe Dam, South Dakota	Double-crested Cormorant 4 October 15th, 2006 Madison Waterfowl Production Area, South Dakota

Double-crested Cormorant 5 May 5th, 2006 Madison Waterfowl Production Area, South Dakota	Double-crested Cormorant 6 July 20th, 2008 Highway 81 Lakes, South Dakota	Double-crested Cormorant 7 July 20th, 2008 Highway 81 Lakes, South Dakota	Double-crested Cormorant 8 February 13th, 2008 Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama

Double-crested Cormorant 9 December 17th, 2008 San Francisco, California	Double-crested Cormorant 10 December 10th, 2012 Everglades National Park, Florida	Double-crested Cormorant 11 December 10th, 2012 Everglades National Park, Florida	Double-crested Cormorant 12 December 10th, 2012 Everglades National Park, Florida

Double-crested Cormorant 13 September 11th, 2010 Lake Thompson, South Dakota	Double-crested Cormorant 14 September 11th, 2010 Lake Thompson, South Dakota	Double-crested Cormorant 15 April 10th, 2011 Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Double-crested Cormorant 16 April 14th, 2019 Wall Lake, Minnehaha County, South Dakota

Double-crested Cormorant 17 April 14th, 2019 Wall Lake, Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Double-crested Cormorant 18 April 14th, 2019 Wall Lake, Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Double-crested Cormorant 19 April 22nd, 2020 Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Double-crested Cormorant 20 April 19th, 2019 Lake Whitewood, South Dakota

Double-crested Cormorant 21 April 15th, 2018 Lincoln County, South Dakota