double-crested cormorant

Description:

The double-crested cormorant mainly eats fish and hunts by swimming and diving. Its feathers, like those of all cormorants, are not waterproof and it must spend time drying them out after spending time in the water. The adult double-crested cormorant is a large waterbird with a stocky body, long neck, medium-sized tail, webbed feet and a medium sized hooked bill. The bill of the adult is dark-colored. The plumage of juvenile double-crested cormorants is more dark gray or brownish. The underparts of a juvenile are lighter than the back with a pale throat and breast that darkens towards the belly. As a bird ages, its plumage will grow darker. The bill of a juvenile will be mostly orange or yellowish. This spotting appears to be a juvenile. This cormorant also has blue eyes which I found interesting.

Habitat:

The double-crested cormorant is found near rivers, lakes and along the coastline. There were two of these cormorants spotted sitting by a pond at an rv park in Florence, South Carolina.