(Click on picture to enlarge)
Field Marks: 32”. A
widespread cormorant found in both freshwater and marine habitats, and the only
cormorant usually seen in interior wetlands or other inland areas.
Easily distinguished from other cormorants in flight by kinked neck.
A very good swimmer and diver. It
feeds chiefly on fish.
The adult bird is blackish with iridescent greenish
or purplish gloss above; throat pouch yellow, bill is black.
Breeding birds have two inconspicuous tufts above their eyes.
Immatures brown above, paler below, with varying amounts of white on the
neck, breast, and belly with some yellow on the bill.
Feet are black in all plumages.
Voice: Usually silent; in colony, low grunts, croaks.
Where
Found: Most of
N. America. Winters south to
British Honduras.
Texas: Migrant (Mar. – May, Sept. – Nov) in most of the
state. Texas (rare in summer);
breeds very locally (Wilbarger County, Baylor County, etc.)
Habitat: Lakes,
rivers, Gulf.
Nest: A mass
of sticks; in tree or bushy; in colony. Eggs
(3-4) pale blue, chalky.