Brandt's cormorant Phalacrocorax penicillatus


Identification Tips:

Adult:

Immature:

Similar species:

Loons are similar on the water, but lack hooked bills. Most loons hold their bills level while swimming while cormorants hold theirs angled upwards. All adult cormorant species in the U.S. are separable by the shape and color of the gular areas. No other species has a blue gular region with a yellowish border. The Brandt's Cormorant shares its Pacific Coast range with the Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorants. Adult Double-crested Cormorants have orange gular regions and Pelagics have red ones. Immature Double-cresteds is paler underparts and Pelagic is darker. The Pelagic Cormorant is noticeably smaller and slimmer.