Illustration © David Allen Sibley.
Learn more about these drawings.
Text © Kenn Kaufman, adapted from
Lives of North American Birds
Photo: Arthur Morris/Vireo
Red-faced Cormorant
Phalacrocorax urile
| Conservation status | Population in Aleutians thought to have been increasing for several decades. Since late 1950s has expanded range east along south coast of Alaska, becoming very common east to Prince William Sound. Despite increase, remains vulnerable to oil spills and other pollution. |
|---|---|
| Family | Cormorants |
| Habitat | Ocean, coast, islands. Spends most of its time close to shore in cool ocean waters, favoring rocky bays, straits between islands. Nests on rocky islands or coasts, on ledges of cliffs or steep slopes. |
Photo Gallery
Feeding Behavior
See family introduction. Solitary in foraging; may feed near bottom in rocky areas.
Eggs
3-4. Bluish white, becoming nest-stained. Incubation is by both sexes, probably about 31-34 days. Young: probably fed by both parents. Age at which young leave nest estimated at 50-60 days.
Young
probably fed by both parents. Age at which young leave nest estimated at 50-60 days.
Diet
Mostly fish. Feeds on a variety of fish, especially sculpins, also pollack, sand lance, others. Also eats crustaceans including crabs, shrimp, amphipods.
Nesting
Breeds in mixed colonies with other seabirds. In display, male perches with head over back, bill pointed up, moving head up and down, while quickly raising and lowering tips of folded wings so that white patches on flanks are rapidly covered and exposed, appearing to flash on and off. Nest: site is on ledge (wide or narrow) of cliff or steep slope above water. Nest is mound of grass, seaweed, moss, debris, with deep hollow in center, sometimes lined with feathers. Nest may be re-used in subsequent years.
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- All Seasons - Common
- All Seasons - Uncommon
- Breeding - Common
- Breeding - Uncommon
- Winter - Common
- Winter - Uncommon
- Migration - Common
- Migration - Uncommon
Songs and Calls
A low korr. Hoarse croaking notes at breeding colonies.Red-faced Cormorant In the News More News
Birding
Two Guys Just Broke the North American Big Year Record—But How?
It turns out, seabirds and extreme birding go really well together.
Conservation
Sitting Ducks: Why Millions of Arctic Seabirds Are in Danger
Oil spills, climate change, fishing, shipping routes—threats facing Arctic seabirds are vast, and hard to track.
