Brandt's Cormorant

Brandt's Cormorant
: Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Pelecaniformes : Phalacrocoracidae : Phalacrocorax : penicillatus
Binomial name
Phalacrocorax penicillatus (Brandt, 1837)

The Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus †) is a strictly marine bird of the cormorant family of seabirds that inhabits sea cliffs along the Pacific coast of North America.

It may be seen gathered in small feeding flocks, with only its head and neck above water. Feeds on small fish.

During the breeding season, adults have a blue throat patch. This species nests on the ground.

Folk names: Penciled Cormorant.

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† Phalacrocorax: Latinized Greek for phalakros (bald) and kora (raven); penicillatus: Latin for a painter's brush (pencil of hairs), in reference to plumes on its neck and back. Common name honors Johann Friedrich von Brandt.