Double Crested Cormorant - Unusual Sea Bird
I photographed this bird along with many other sea birds resting on some pylons in Corolla, NC.
The double-crested cormorant a fairly large bird that measures more than two feet long and a wingspan of almost four feet.
Double-crested cormorants are quite unusual looking especially with their dis-proportionally small heads and eyes centered on their beaks.
As with other sea birds, double-crested cormorants feed on a diet of fish and invertebrate
Since these birds do not have the oil glands that most water birds have, the double-crested cormorant requires fanning their wings after a swim to dry them.
| Category | (Animal Photography ) |
| Camera | (Nikon P900) |
| Location | (Outer Banks, NC ) |
fantastic series!
Well done, very well done.
Thank you, @bluefinstudios! As you are a fabulous photographer, your compliment means a lot.
Interesting fact about the lack of oil glands. Wonder why that is? Maybe its ancestors were originally non-sea foraging birds?
Namaste, JaiChai
:) You know, I thought the same thing. Kind of strange to be a water bird without the oils for buoyancy even.
Namaste
@jaichai - I believe the cormorant is considered to be a very primitive bird and the lack of an oil gland is part of that. Apparently, this bird is able to cope without. I think it's a pretty awesome bird and I miss seeing them all the time.
It's always fun to watch the cormorants fanning to dry off!
Thanks to @viking-ventures, this post was resteemed and highlighted in today's edition of The Daily Sneak.
Thank you for your efforts to create quality content!
Thank you @thedailysneak and @viking-ventures!
I wish I could say that I got a glimpse of that fanning routine they do, but I didn't. Maybe next year....
Have a wonderful weekend
Some very beautiful pictures of the cormorant, such flexible necks on them.
Thank you so much, @bashadow
They really are interesting birds. I think maybe these are young birds...there were 3 together - perhaps siblings. I think the adults are darker.
When it comes to flexibility of neck, owl's neck rotation never ceases to amaze me.
Great shots! Resteemed!
Excellent timing dude, you got some awesome pictures right there!
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Beautiful pictures, especially the 1st and 2nd pictures, really good timing to capture it.
Thank you, @vamos-amaigo - That second shot was a great spontaneous catch. I think he was actually 'yawning' or clearing the throat of food stuck in there. If you have a bird yourself, you notice them doing this all the time. Just my speculation though.
Nice shots.
In the second shot, is it waiting for food from sky or it's just laughing? (lol)
Thank you, @sina-adventure. I think he was actually 'yawning' or clearing the throat of food stuck in there.
These are some awesome unique birds and you did a fantastic job at capturing them. I wonder what use the eyes on the beak is, maybe to see the food better lol...
It is most strange :) But what makes them 'interesting' and unique. I would love to know more of their history. It's going to take some deeper digging. They almost look like ducks in the water - prehistoric ducks they are!
haha, awesome let's hope so, as it would be nice to have something survive the prehistoric era that can't eat me. lol..