Double-crested cormorant

Double-crested cormorant Temporal range: Pleistocene–present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Adult in non-breeding plumage
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Secure  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Suliformes
Family:	Phalacrocoracidae
Genus:	Nannopterum
Species:	N. auritum
Binomial name
Nannopterum auritum (Lesson, 1831)
Geographical distribution of Double-crested cormorant.   Breeding   Migration   Year-round   Nonbreeding
Synonyms
Carbo auritus Lesson, 1831 Dilophalieus auritus (Lesson, 1831) Phalacrocorax dilophus Phalacrocorax auritus Nesocarbo auritum

The double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) is a member of the cormorant family of water birds. It is found near rivers and lakes and in coastal areas and is widely distributed across North America, from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska down to Florida and Mexico. Measuring 70–90 cm (28–35 in) in length, it is entirely black except for a bare patch of orange-yellow facial skin and some extra plumage that it exhibits in the breeding season when it grows a double crest in which black feathers are mingled with white. Five subspecies are recognized. It mainly eats fish and hunts by swimming and diving. Its feathers, like all cormorants, are not waterproof, and it must dry them out after spending time in the water. Once threatened by the use of DDT, the numbers of this bird have increased markedly in recent years.