Double-crested Cormorant

Nannopterum auritum

Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories

See what's near you right now

The Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) is a member of the Phalacrocoracidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 1.8 kg.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Suliformes
Family Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants, Shags
Genus Nannopterum
Species auritum

Where it lives

Widespread coastal and inland temperate and subtropical North America from eastern Aleutian Is. and Gulf of St. Lawrence to southern Baja California, Yucatan Pen., Cuba and Bahamas

Quick facts

Weight: 1.8 kg
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Order: Suliformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Double-crested Cormorant hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Double-crested Cormorant is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) belongs to the Phalacrocoracidae family of the order Suliformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA widespread coastal and inland temperate and subtropical North America from e Aleutian Is. and Gulf of St. Lawrence to s Baja California, Yucatan Pen., Cuba and Bahamas.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.8 kg, with a wing length of about 31.2 cm and a tail of around 15.4 cm.

Songs & calls

Double-crested Cormorant — Call

Recorded by CHRIS DRYSDALE Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Double-crested Cormorant?

The Double-crested Cormorant is a very large bird that weighs around 1.8 kg.

Where does the Double-crested Cormorant live?

The Double-crested Cormorant is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA widespread coastal and inland temperate and subtropical North America from e Aleutian Is. and Gulf of St. Lawrence to s Baja California, Yucatan Pen., Cuba and Bahamas, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Double-crested Cormorant belong to?

The Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) belongs to the Phalacrocoracidae family, in the order Suliformes.

What does the Double-crested Cormorant eat?

The Double-crested Cormorant hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Double-crested Cormorant migrate?

The Double-crested Cormorant is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

What sound does the Double-crested Cormorant make?

1 real field recording of the Double-crested Cormorant — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.