The pelagic cormorant in central and southern California breeds on the rocky shores and cliffs along the coast, but substantial colonies breed on San Miguel, Santa Barbara, Anacapa, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz islands from March to August. The southern range usually experiences earlier inititation dates, but on average breeding plumage is usually seen in February and nest building commences shortly thereafter. Southern Pelagic Cormorant / Baird's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus resplendens - Audubon, 1838) Range: British Columbia to northwestern Mexico. It forages near shore along rocky substrate, and in California it is frequently seen along the fringes of kelp forests. Conservation Status: Globally this species is stable, but the population in Alaska is of high concern. Breeding plumage is similar to basic plumage but also includes white flank patches, red facial skin at the base of bill, double head crests, and white plumes along the neck and upper-back region. Groaning and hissing calls around breeding colonies. This seabird is a small member of the cormorant family and is also known as Baird's Cormorant. adult plum. The red-faced cormorant is closely related to the pelagic cormorant P. pelagicus, which has a similar range, and like the pelagic cormorant is placed by some authors (e.g. Red-faced Cormorant has a more orange face patch, although the patch is larger and more conspicuous. Birdlover.jp 225 views. Other North Pacific cormorants and shags are larger, with a thicker bill, and/or lack the white thighs in breeding plumage. To catch prey it dives deeply; birds have been taken in fishing nets at depths of 180 feet. Reproduction The Brandt’s Cormorant is one of the smallest cormorants. Extinct. It relies on flight to move around. Did you know? The Pelagic Cormorant feeds mainly on nonschooling medium sized fish, but also consumes invertebrates, maine worms and crustaceans. Juveniles are duller than adults, especially on the face, but usually show some pale pinkish at the base of the bill. Distribution: In North America they are only found on the Pacific Coast. immature. [10], The cormorant family Phalacrocoracidae has traditionally been included – like all other birds with fully webbed toes – in the Pelecaniformes. Its wintering range is from the Pribilof Islands to the Aleutian Islands and south along the North American Pacific coast to Baja California, as well as from the south Bering Sea along the eastern shores of Kamchatka and south to Hong Kong. … Range extends from the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, out the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands to the Kamchatcka Peninsula, … As with all cormorants, due to their vestigal preen gland, their plumage is not waterproof. When in flight, the head and neck are held out in a straight profile parallel to the water. They nest on coastal cliffs and forage in rocky water, rarely traveling far from shore despite their name. This seabird lives year round along the coasts of the Pacific; during winter it can also be found in the open ocean. They reach sexual maturity at two years of age, and a maximum age of almost eighteen years has been recorded in the wild. This is mainly due to the inaccessibility of their breeding sites, which are located on the sides of steep cliffs along exposed rocky shorelines. [9], This numerous and widespread species is not considered threatened by the IUCN. Breeding colonies disperse but pelagic cormorants south of the Monterey Bay area do not migrate but continue to forage along the rocky coastal areas following the most abundant prey. Discussion. Subspecific information 2 subspecies. In Washington, significant increases in the population were recorded between 1976 and 1992. It … The Pelagic Cormorant is among the least gregarious or social of the cormorants, nesting on steep cliffs along rocky and exposed shorelines, either in loose colonies or far from nearest neighbors. The pelagic cormorant feeds mainly on fish, which it pursues both close to shore and far out at sea. Its North American range extends from Alaska to the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. … Read more Similar to: Red-faced Cormorant. Pelagic cormorants can dive as deep as 100 feet. Despite the fact that the population trend for the pelagic cormorant appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for vulnerable status. For nesting it uses its own guano to glue the nest together as well as to the cliff. Dives to capture fish. The bulk of its population is found in the relatively inaccessible waters of the Bering Sea region; about 50,000 each breed in the Kuril Islands, the Bering Sea islands, and the U.S. state of Alaska and its offshore islands (including the Aleuts). The Great Cormorant lives along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean from Labrador down to the tip of Florida. If subfamilies are to be accepted in the Phalacrocoracidae, the pelagic shag and its relatives would go in the Phalacrocoracinae like most Northern Hemisphere cormorants and shags, while Leucocarboninae would include mainly Southern Hemisphere taxa. Orta, Jaume (1992b): Family Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants). They eat a wide variety of foods, but fish that live close to the ocean floor are their favorites. The bright red bare skin of its face becomes duller in winter. Leucocarbo pelagicus (Pallas, 1811) Apart from looking almost alike, these two species also "yawn" many times in a row instead of giving the display just once, twist their bodies before taking flight during courtship, and the male and female post-landing calls are identical. Range from the arctic waters of the Chukchi and Bering Seas, south along the North American Coast to Baja California. This species has a slender neck and body with a thin bill. Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) is a species of bird in the Phalacrocoracidae family. Feet are large with all-webbed toes. They usually swim until locating prey, and though preferring shallow waters, may dive to 180 feet (55 m) to on or near the floor of the sea, steering with their wings and propelled by their feet as they chase their prey under water. Present year-round in most of range, but vacates northernmost breeding areas (western Alaska) in winter when waters freeze, and becomes more common off southern California and Baja in … Habitat Pelagic zone, ecological realm that includes the entire ocean water column. This bird can be found in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the Russian Federations, Korea, China and Taiwan. The pelagic cormorant is smaller than other cormorants. [4], This is a smallish cormorant which measures 25 to 35 in (64 to 89 cm) in length, with a wingspan of about 3.3 ft (1 meter) and a weight of 52–86 oz (1,474–2,438 g) when fully grown. In this case, the pelagic cormorant would probably be placed in Compsohalieus. About 60% of these are found in California. The Pelagic Cormorant and the Brandt's Cormorant can be seen along North American coastlines. When they feel threatened, they will dart their bills at the intruder, and shake their heads and make a gargling noise. During the yawning display, the head is thrown back and calls are given which differ between males and females; when the birds land, males and females give an identical call. Found on rocky coastlines; breeds in colonies on precarious cliff faces. Dark glossy-green cormorant with a bluish neck, red face, and yellowish bill. Thus, the birds return to a safe place after foraging to preen and dry their feathers, typically adopting a spread-winged posture. Breeding within the Salish Sea by Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus), Double-crested Cormorant (P. auritus) and Brandt's Cormorant (P. penicillatus) was summarized from published and unpublished sources for the 1891–1955 period.None of the 3 cormorant species were recorded breeding in the Salish Sea between 1792 and 1891 although sporadic breeding may have been missed. 1:00. Like all cormorants, this includes stretching the gular sac with the hyoid bone and repeated "yawning"; as in many but not all cormorants, the pelagic cormorant's display furthermore includes arching the neck and hopping, lifting the folded wings and rapidly fluttering them to show the white thigh patches. Pelagic Cormorants have all black bodies when they are young but as they mature, their bodies show a iridescent green color, as well as iridescent purple on their necks. Discussion. Conservation framework Notes; EAAF Partnership: Note: Population size. They all have black feet, and in breeding plumage grow white filoplumes on the head and/or neck, and usually also two head-crests and white thigh patches like the present species does. It is found in the Nearctic, the Indo-Malayan Realm, and the Palearctic. Apart from fish, small crustaceans – in particular shrimp – are also often eaten. They do not form large colonies, but smaller groups may nest together. Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) is a large water bird but the smallest of the other species of cormorants. It winters south from southern Alaska. The pelagic cormorant breeds from the Bering Sea south to northern Baja California. The bulk of its population is found in the relatively inaccessible waters of the Bering Sea region; about 50,000 each breed in the Kuril Islands, the Bering Sea islands, and the U.S. state of Alaska and its offshore islands (including the Aleuts). The Pelagic Cormorants (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) are also known as Baird's Cormorants, Pelagic Shags or Violet-green Cormorant - due to the violet-green iridescence (sheen) to their otherwise dark plumage.. The pelagic cormorant feeds mainly on fish, which it pursues both close to shore and far out at sea. Pelagic cormorants live along open, windswept coasts. Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) is a species of bird in the Phalacrocoracidae family. 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