Pelagic Cormorant

The Pelagic Cormorant, also known as Baird's Cormorant or the Violet-Green Cormorant, is a small, sleek seabird of the family Phalacrocoracidae. Adults exhibit a striking metallic iridescence on their all-black plumage when not in breeding attire. During the breeding season, they develop two short crests, white thighs, and a smattering of white filoplumes on their head and neck. The bill is long and thin, and the feet are large with fully webbed toes, both of which remain black year-round. A patch of naked skin below the eye turns a vivid magenta during the breeding season. Males and females are similar in appearance, though females are slightly smaller. Immature birds are a uniform dark brown, with lighter brown undersides.

Identification Tips

To identify the Pelagic Cormorant, look for its small size, with a length of 25 to 35 inches and a wingspan of approximately 3.3 feet. The bird's flight is characterized by rapid wingbeats due to its relatively short wings, which are adapted for efficient underwater movement. In breeding plumage, note the white thigh patches and the two crests on the head. The red-faced cormorant is similar in appearance but can be distinguished by its larger naked facial skin area and larger crests.

Habitat

The Pelagic Cormorant is found along the rocky shores and islands of the northern Pacific Ocean. It prefers sheltered inlets and bays, often near kelp beds or rocky outcrops.

Distribution

This cormorant's range extends from Alaska to the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico, including the Aleutian and other Bering Strait islands. It is also found from the Russian Far East Chukchi Peninsula south to Kamchatka and Kyūshū. Subarctic populations are migratory, while temperate and subtropical birds disperse locally after breeding.

Behaviour

On land, the Pelagic Cormorant exhibits a high-stepped waddling gait and may scratch the ground. When threatened, it will dart its bill at the intruder, shake its head, and make a gargling noise. It forages by swimming and diving to depths of up to 140 feet, propelled by its feet and steering with its wings. After foraging, the bird returns to a safe place to preen and dry its feathers, often adopting a spread-winged posture.

Song & Calls

The Pelagic Cormorant typically calls out before taking off, especially during the breeding season. Males and females give identical calls when landing, and during courtship displays, the birds may produce a variety of calls.

Breeding

Breeding occurs on rocky shores and islands, with nests built on cliff faces or in crevices. The nest is constructed from plant material and guano. Courtship displays are elaborate, including stretching the gular sac, "yawning," and fluttering the wings to show the white thigh patches. Clutches typically contain two to five eggs, with incubation lasting three weeks to a month.

Similar Species

The red-faced cormorant is the most similar species, but it can be distinguished by its larger naked facial skin area and larger crests.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists mainly of small, bottom-living non-schooling fish and crustaceans. The Pelagic Cormorant hunts in the vicinity of kelp beds or among rocks and may join mixed-species feeding flocks.

Conservation status

The IUCN lists the Pelagic Cormorant as Least Concern. It is a numerous and widespread species, with significant populations in the Bering Sea region. Local populations may be affected by oil spills and competition with gillnet fisheries.

Taxonomy and systematics

Formerly classified in the genus Phalacrocorax, the Pelagic Cormorant was reclassified into the genus Urile in 2014. It has two recognized subspecies: U. pelagicus pelagicus and U. pelagicus resplendens, with the former being larger and found in the northwest Pacific, and the latter being smaller and found from British Columbia to northwest Mexico.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized: the Northern pelagic cormorant (U. p. pelagicus) and the Southern pelagic cormorant (U. p. resplendens), with size differences generally following Bergmann's Rule.