125 



BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY (Sula nebouxii; choice 6, pg. 31) i s the most likely 

 booby to be found in the area but even so it is quite rare. Specimens 

 have been encountered as far north as Washington, but any found north of 

 central Baja California should certainly be saved for verification. They 

 have occurred north of there only during late summer and fall. 



BROWN BOOBY (Sula leucogaster; choices 3, 3' , 8 and 9, pp. 31 -3?) 

 is one of the more likely boobies to occur in the area. To find one north 

 of southern California would be remarkable and any specimens north of 

 central Baja California should be saved. In their area of occurrence, 

 records exist for all seasons of the year. 



RED-FOOTED BOOBY (Sula sula; choices 5, 7' and 9', pp. 31-32) can be 

 quite variable in color, from mostly white to mostly brown. Only two 

 individuals have ever been observed in this area, both during fall in 

 central California. 



CORMORANTS (PHALACROCORACIDAE) 



Cormorants are relatively large seabirds about the size of the smallest 

 loons and the largest gulls. They are quite heavy for their size. In 

 their first year they are generally brownish all over but by their third 

 year they are black with a bluish, purplish or greenish sheen. As with 

 other Pel ecani formes the four toes on each foot are all joined by webs 

 (Plate 36-4). They have very long, fan- or wedge-shaped tails. 



DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalaorooorax auritus; choices 3 and 6, pp. 

 32*33 ) is the largest cormorant on the Pacific coast. It is all too 

 often confused with the Brandt's Cormorant which is almost as large. If 

 there is no yellow on the b-ill, it is not a Double-Crested Cormorant. 

 People often see the light buffy chin coloration on Brandt's Cormorant 

 specimens and incorrectly misidentify them. The back feathers of a Double- 

 crested Cormorant have a bronze sheen and are edged with black giving a 

 scaled appearance. All other cormorants show an even greenish or 

 purplish sheen. 



Double-crested Cormorants are very local in occurrence. They occur 

 year round from the Alaska Peninsula to Cabo San Lucas. From southern 

 Washington to northern Baja California they are rather uncommon compared 

 to other cormorants. 



BRANDT'S CORMORANT (Phalacrooorax penioillatus; choices 4 and 7, 

 pg.33). Characteristics of this species are discussed above. From 



Washington to northern Baja California it is by far the most abundant 

 cormorant; the majority of specimens encountered will be this species. 

 It occurs from southeast Alaska to Cabo San Lucas, and is present year 

 round throughout this range. From British Columbia north its abundance 

 declines rapidly. North of Vancouver Island specimens should be retained 

 for verification. 



