CORMORANTS: Family Phalacrocoracidae [ 97 ] 



the time the nesting is started. During the remainder of the year the 

 adults are plain iridescent green-black; the young, dull brownish-black. 

 Their plumage does not seem to be as well waterproofed as that of the 

 ducks, and the birds regularly drape themselves over the bare branches 

 about the nest or sprawl with extended wings over the rocks to dry out, 

 looking most bedraggled and forlorn. Their flight is strong, direct, and 

 rapid, with steady wing beats, although occasionally they sail much as 

 buzzards and pelicans do. 



Food of this cormorant consists very largely of fish and other aquatic 

 life that it catches by swimming under water, where its snakelike form 

 and powerful feet enable it to outswim the minnows, carp, suckers, and 

 other fish. The bird is not generally regarded as detrimental to any 

 economic interests of man, and although fishermen sometimes claim that 

 it destroys large numbers of commercially valuable fish, examinations of 

 some Oregon stomachs confirm our belief that trash fish comprise a large 

 percentage of its diet. Two stomachs from Warner Valley each contained 

 remains of one sucker (Catostomus warnerensis*). One stomach from Tilla- 

 mook Bay (taken May 2.0) contained seven or more Chitonotus pugetensis 

 and remains of a few shrimp. Three stomachs contained pieces of two 

 species of crustaceans, bits of grass, and a mass offish remains, so digested 

 as to be unidentifiable, that comprised 95 per cent of the entire contents. 

 Another stomach taken at the same time in Tillamook Bay contained the 

 remains of six sculpins (Cottus asper), and another (taken January i) con- 

 tained remains of one Chitonotus pugetensis. Two other stomachs were 

 practically empty and contained only tiny bits of fish bones and crusta- 

 ceans. 



Brandt's Cormorant: 



Phalacrocorax penicillatus (Brandt) 



DESCRIPTION. "Bill slender, nearly straight; tail short, with narrow, rigid feathers; 

 head without crests or elongated tufts. Adults: head and neck glossy blue black, 

 except for light brownish patch next co gular sac; under parts glossy greenish black; 

 scapulars and wing coverts dull greenish black. Breeding plumage: sides of neck and 

 shoulders with long white or yellowish filaments; throat pouch blue. Young: 

 plumage brown, throat and under parts paler; upper parts darker, becoming blackish 

 on back of neck." (Bailey) (See Plate 14.) Downy young: Born naked with greasy 

 black skin but soon covered with a "clove brown" down, "paler below, mottled 

 with white on the under parts and wings." (Adapted from Bent.) Si%e: Length 

 2.8-33, "wing 10.50-11.75, bill x. 60-1.95, tail 5.50-6.50." (Bailey) Nest: Of sea- 

 weeds and mosses on offshore rocks or inaccessible headlands along coast (Plate 14). 

 Eggs: 3 to 6, usually 4, pale bluish or white, more or less concealed by a white 

 coating. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from southern Alaska southward along coast to 

 Lower California. Winters over approximately same range. In Oregon: Common 

 all along coast on suitable offshore rocks and headlands. Winters on all bays along 



