Birds of Los Angeles, California: Brandt’s Cormorant!

by | Jul 30, 2015

New photos! Recently passing through LA, I had a bit of time for a quick stop at the beach to check out the local shorebirds…..

Brandt's Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)

Cormorants (family Phalacrocoracidae) are medium to large fish-eating waterbirds found throughout most of the world. Because their feathers do not repel water or aid in buoyancy as in most other kinds of birds, cormorants use this to their advantage by being able to swim swiftly and adeptly underwater to catch fish. Once above the water, cormorants must “dry out” – meaning their wings must air-dry in order for them to fly again.

Brandt's Cormorant

Often seen diving to depths of more than 40 feet (suspected at going even deeper to 150 feet or more), the Brandt’s cormorant is found along North America’s Pacific Coast from Alaska to the Gulf of California in Mexico where it hunts for fish above the ocean floor. It is often associated with sea lions. This one was seen near Los Angeles’ Del Rey Lagoon on a sunny California spring morning.

Brandt's Cormorant

SEE MORE IMAGES OF THIS AND OTHER CORMORANTS HERE

                                                                                          

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