FARALLON CORMORANT

Phalacrocorax auritus

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IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)

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FARALLON CORMORANT

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Phalacrocorax auritus (Lesson, 1831) Phalacrocorax auritus (Lesson, 1831) Phalacrocorax auritus (Lesson, 1831) Phalacrocorax auritus (Lesson, 1831) Phalacrocorax auritus (Lesson, 1831)

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Table Of Contents

Behavior

Source and Additional Information
Animal Diversity Web external link
 
Elizabeth Ward, Kari Kirschbaum
Some rights reserved
Some rights reserved

Double-crested cormorants are very gregarious. They can be found in small and large groups both on the breeding grounds, and during the winter. They breed in colonies and often feed in large flocks. They also migrate in large groups.

Double-crested cormorants feed during the day by diving for fish. After diving, cormorants look for an elevated spot to perch with their wings outspread. This is most likely done to dry out the feathers. This behavior is not a direct response to water, however, as captive cormorants that do not dive for their food still perch to dry their feathers after eating. (Hatch and Weseloh, 1999)

Communication and Perception

Source and Additional Information
Animal Diversity Web external link
 
Elizabeth Ward, Kari Kirschbaum
Some rights reserved
Some rights reserved

Double-crested cormorants use calls and physical displays to communicate with one another. While cormorants use their small range of calls in certain social situations, they are largely silent. One example of the physical displays used to communicate between cormorants is the "wing wave display" used by males to attract a mate. (Hatch and Weseloh, 1999)