Cormorant, Red-faced

Physical Features

Red-faced Cormorants are one of the least studied birds in the North Pacific, possibly because they are shy and nest in small, widely dispersed colonies on steep, inaccessible cliff faces. It gets its name from its distinct bright red colored facial skin. They are medium-sized Cormorants with glossy blackish plumage that is a deep greenish blue in color, becoming purplish or bronze on the back and sides. During the breeding season, adults have a double crest on the head and neck, white hair-like feathers on the neck and shoulder area, a white patch on the side of the body, and bright red facial skin. The inside of the mouth is sky blue and the fleshy area around the mouth is a paler blue. Its legs and feet are brownish black. Males and females are similar in appearance, although males are larger in size. Adults weigh between 1.5 and 2.3 kg, with females averaging 350g less than males. Their wingspan ranges from 25 to 29 cm in extent, with females having on average about 5 cm shorter wings. A very similar species is the Pelagic Cormorant and in areas where the two are found together, they are often confused. The Red-Faced Cormorant can be identified by a lack of feathers on the forehead (feathered in Pelagic), brighter and more extensive red facial skin and a light brown to dark-yellow bill (blackish or dark gray in Pelagic). It is also larger and 20-25% heavier than the Pelagic Cormorant.

Habitat

Red-faced Cormorants are found in the far north of the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea, from the eastern tip of Hokkaidō in Japan, via the Kuril Islands, the southern tip of the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands to the Alaska Peninsula and Gulf of Alaska. Breeding occurs in a narrow band from the Gulf of Alaska to the central and western Aleutian Islands, through the southern Bering Sea to Russian, and on to the northern Sea of Japan. In Alaska, there are also nesting sites on the Pribilof Islands and in Norton Sound.

Diet

The preferred diet of the Red-faced Cormorant is solitary fish, crab and shrimp or invertebrates found near the bottom of waters. They feed by pursuing their prey underwater using their feet for propulsion.

Meat

Red-faced Cormorant meat has a strong, smelly, fishy taste due to their marine diet.

Behavior

Red-faced Cormorants is not a migratory bird. The breeding season typically takes place between May through August. The female usually builds the nest on a cliff ledge with the male assisting by collecting building materials. The nest is mainly constructed from grass and seaweed cemented together with guano, moss, feathers and some sticks may also be used. The female lays 2-4 eggs and both parents take turns to incubate the eggs for 27-34 days before they hatch. . The emerging young are fed regurgitated food fed to them by both parents, who also watch over them. After leaving the nest, the young roam the colony in crèches returning to the nest site to be fed. Fledging takes place after 40-60 days. The young are completely independent of their parents at 10 weeks of age. River Otters, Corvids and Bald Eagles prey upon adult Red-face Cormorant while Gulls and Corvids are common predators of eggs and chicks.

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