Cormorant, Brandt's

Physical Features Brandt's Cormorants are water birds that have long, slender necks. Their color ranges from buff-brown and black when they are young to black when they are adults. This slightly changes during the breeding season when adults exhibit a blue patch at the base of their beak. Their bill is medium-sized with a blunt or hooked at tip. The Brandt's tail is the shortest of all the Cormorants. Brandt's Cormorants have a body weight of 1.4-2.7kg/49.4–95.2 oz and they grow to a length between 70-79cm/27.6–31.1in with a wingspan of 108cm/42.5in. Males are generally larger than females. Habitat Brandt's Cormorants are strictly marine birds living on the rocky shorelines and open ocean of salt or brackish water. The nesting colonies are found on the slopes rather than the on cliff ledges. They are inhabitants of the Pacific coast of North America. During the summer they are found in Alaska to the Gulf of California, but in winter populations north of Vancouver Island migrate south. Diet Brandt's Cormorants are carnivorous and they feed on a wide variety of fishes, including juvenile rockfishes, Sebastes, and Pacific Herring as well as some squid, shrimp and crabs. Brandt's Cormorants obtain their prey by diving under water, up to 150 feet below the water surface. They feed alone or in flocks in association with other sea birds. Meat Brandt's Cormorants meat has a strong smelly fish taste attributed to their marine diet. Behavior Brandt's Cormorants are sociable birds that fly in lines low over the water surface. They do not breed until they are three or four years old which is common to all of the Cormorants. Their breeding season takes place from March to August. They are colonial nesters; the male attracts the female to the nesting site on the ground or on rocky outcroppings. He then fetches materials like of seaweed, eelgrass and algae from the water while the female builds the nest, which is held together using droppings. The nest can be reused by adding materials every year. The female lays one to three eggs, which are incubated by both the male and female. Once the young hatch, the male and female regurgitate food, which they feed to the young. Brandt's Cormorants are known to live for over 18 years. Brandt's Cormorants make a variety of vocalizations including low, hoarse and guttural croaks, growls, or gargles.

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