Cormorant

Cormorants are medium-to-large sea birds. Cormorant is a prehistoric-looking, matte-black fishing bird with yellow-orange facial skin. Though they look like a combination of a goose and a loon, they are relatives of frigate birds and boobies and are a common sight around fresh and salt water across North America—perhaps attracting the most attention when they stand on docks, rocky islands, and channel markers, their wings spread out to dry. The majority, including nearly all Northern Hemisphere species, have mainly dark plumage, but some Southern Hemisphere species are black and white, and a few are quite colorful. Many species have areas of colored skin on the face which can be bright blue, orange, red or yellow, typically becoming more brightly colored in the breeding season. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet have webbing between all four toes, as in their relatives.They are coastal rather than oceanic birds, and some have colonized inland waters. All are fish-eaters, dining on small eels, fish, and even water snakes. Under water they propel themselves with their feet. After fishing, cormorants go ashore, and are frequently seen holding their wings out in the sun. Cormorants are colonial nester’s, using trees, rocky islets, or cliffs. The eggs are a chalky-blue color. There is usually one brood a year. The young are fed through regurgitation. They typically have deep, ungainly bills, showing a greater resemblance to those of the pelicans’.

EXIF Data

Aperture – ƒ/6.3
Camera – NIKON D90
Date Created – 2013:09:08 13:03
Focal length – 500mm
ISO – 280
Exposure Time – 1/500