40 CORMORANTS 



2'. Flanks with a large white patch in breeding plumage. Top and back 

 of head crested in breeding plumage. 

 3. JSize larger, wing 10.00-11.40. From Washington northward. 



pelagicus, p, 41. 

 3'. Size smaller, wing 9.30-10.50. From Cape Flattery southward. 



resplendens, p. 42. 



Subgenus Phalacrocorax. 

 120. Phalacrocorax dilophus (Swain). Double-crested Cor- 

 morant. 



Adults in breeding plutnage. — Throat pouch orange ; a narrow crest of 

 curved black feathers above and back of each eye ; back and wings slaty, 

 feathers bordered with black ; rest of plumage glossy greenish black. 

 Post-breeding plumage : head without crests. Young : plumage brownish, 

 becoming grayish brown on head and neck ; throat and breast IJ^ter, 

 sometimes white before the first moult. Length : 29-34, wing 12-13, bill 

 2.00-2.45. 



Distribution. — Breeds from northeastern North America west to the 

 Dakotas and north to Athabasca ; migrates to Gulf coast ; west to Colo- 

 rado and Utah. 



Nest. — In trees or on rocks, made of sticks, and usually coated with 

 lime-like excrement. Eggs : 3 or 4, dull bluish green. 



The double-crested cormorants are common along the Atlantic 

 coast and the lakes and rivers of the Mississippi valley, breeding in 

 communities on cliffs and rocky islands along the coast, and mainly 

 in trees in the interior. 



Like all cormorants, they are expert fishers. With their dense 

 glossy plumage, long, almost fish-like form, powerful leg muscles, 

 and wide paddles, double- jointed mouths, elastic throats, and the 

 hooked tip of their bills, they are built for pursuing, catching, and 

 swallowing fish. Much of their time is spent in the water pursuing 

 their prey, or perched on rocks or posts near their fishing grounds. 



Vernon Bailey. 



120b. P. d. cincinatus (Brandt). White-crested Cormorant. 



Like P. dilophus, but with crests mainly white. Length : 36, wing 13.70, 

 bill 2.25-2.55. 



Distribution. — Northwest coast of North America, breeding on the 

 coast of Alaska ; south in winter to California. 



Nest. — On islands, a mass of sticks and weeds six inches to a foot in 

 height. Eggs : 4 or 5. 



120e. p. d. albociliatus Ridgw. Farallone Cormorant. 



Similar to cincinatus. but slightly smaller. Length : 25-31, wing 11.75- 

 13.00, bill 1.90-2.35. 



Distribution. — Coast and inland lakes of southern Oregon and Califor- 

 nia, and south to western Mexico and the Socorro Islands. 



Nest. — A firm structure of sticks, lined with moss and various water 

 plants ; placed in trees and on rocks. Eggs : 3 to 5, dull bluish green. 



The Farallone cormorant is a common resident of the California 



