January 3, 2017
Block 1B
Phalacrocorax auritus double crested cormorant
Comparative Description-
The Phalacrocorax auritus are outsized aquatic birds with small heads and a large kinked neck. They can grow up to 35 inches in length, and a wingspan that is between 45 to 48 inches. These birds can weigh as little as 2.6 pounds, and as much as 5.5 pounds. The male and female adults are almost the same with their characteristics, as they show no sexual dimorphism (when they male and female have very different characteristics). This species has dark colored feathers with a super-loral skin. Their gular skin can range from orange to yellow. An adult that is breeding will be mostly black. Their nuptial crests are white, black, or sometimes even both. The bill of the adult is dark colored. The feathers on a young will be darker gray or brown. The under parts of a young are lighter than the back, and they have a pale throat and their breast darkens towards the belly. As it ages, its feathers will grow darker. The bill of the young will be very orange or yellow.
Habitat-
These birds are aquatic, and are the most spreaded out in North America. It is seen a lot in freshwater habitats like ponds, lakes, and rivers. They also shelter in estuaries, mangroves, …show more content…
Some of the things they eat also include crabs, shrimp, crayfish, frogs, salamanders, eels, and sometimes snakes, mollusks, and plant material such as. They catch their foods mostly by diving into the water and swimming underwater by their feet. They can hunt for food in groups, or by themselves. Defense of the nest….or territory is….They are very active during the day and they make seasonal movements such as…a lot. Nesting for this species usually happens at age 3, and they do so in colonies. Incubation is by both sexes, and both parents feed the nestlings. The incubation time can last up to 33 days. These aves can live up to 8.5