Birds Active during the day

Brandt's Cormorant

Urile penicillatus

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A coastal icon of the Pacific, the Brandt's Cormorant is famous for its iridescent black plumage and the stunning cobalt-blue throat it displays during the nesting season. Whether diving through kelp forests or drying their wings on sun-drenched rocks, these social seabirds are a masterclass in maritime survival.

1 Sightings

1 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 70-84 cm (28-33 in); Wingspan: 110-124 cm (43-49 in); Weight: 1.4-2.8 kg (3.1-6.2 lbs)

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Colors

Adults are entirely iridescent black with green and blue sheen; they feature a buff-colored tan patch at the base of the bill and striking cobalt-blue throat skin during the breeding season.

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Key Features

Heavy, hooked bill with a buffy tan 'mustache' patch at the base
Brilliant blue gular (throat) pouch visible during breeding
Striking turquoise-green eyes
Thick-necked profile compared to other cormorants

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6-10 AM and 3-6 PM

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Season Year-round; best seen in breeding plumage from March to August

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Diet A generalist carnivore that primarily eats small schooling fish like herring, anchovies, and rockfish, supplemented by crustaceans like shrimp and crabs.

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Habitat Strictly marine environments including rocky coastlines, kelp forests, coastal bays, and offshore islands.

Sightings on EverydayEarth

USC Wrigley Catalina Marine Reserve

Apr 10, 2026

Several Brandt's Cormorants are seen diving and swimming rapidly through the underwater kelp forest, likely hunting for small fish. Their large webbed feet and streamlined bodies allow for efficient movement as they maneuver through the water. A few small fish, including a bright orange Garibaldi, drift in the background near the seafloor.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Brandt's Cormorant Live?

The Brandt's Cormorant is a signature species of the North American Pacific Coast, ranging from the Gulf of Alaska down to the southern tip of Baja California and into the Gulf of California. While they are essentially a West Coast exclusive, their highest population densities are found along the rugged shores of California, Oregon, and Washington. Most populations remain year-round residents, though birds at the northernmost edge of the range typically move south toward British Columbia and the United States during the harsher winter months.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

3 Countries

2.5M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

US United States MX Mexico CA Canada

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

Brandt's Cormorants are highly social seabirds often seen flying in long, low-slung lines just above the ocean surface or congregating in massive colonies on rocky offshore islands. They are master divers, using their powerful webbed feet to propel themselves deep underwater—sometimes over 200 feet—to chase schools of fish. Unlike many other water birds, their feathers are not fully waterproof, which reduces buoyancy and allows them to sink and swim more efficiently; however, this requires them to spend significant time perched on rocks or piers with their wings spread wide to dry in the breeze.

During the spring, males engage in elaborate courtship displays to claim nesting sites on steep cliffs. They draw attention by flapping their wings to show off white filament-like plumes on their necks and puffing out their vibrant blue throat pouches. While they are generally cautious around people, they are a frequent sight in coastal harbors and marinas, where they have learned to coexist with human activity as long as their nesting sites remain undisturbed.

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Camera Tips

To capture high-quality footage of a Brandt's Cormorant, location is the most critical factor. Because these birds never venture far inland, you should position your camera on coastal properties, specifically targeting rocky jetties, docks, or private piers where the birds are known to haul out. Look for 'whitewash'—the white guano stains on rocks—which indicates a favorite resting spot. Set your camera at a mid-range height (3-5 feet) and angle it slightly downward toward the flat surfaces of the rocks to capture the birds' wing-drying behavior.

Lighting is your best friend when trying to capture their dark, iridescent plumage. Position the camera with the sun at its back to illuminate the subtle greens and blues of their feathers. The 'golden hour'—just after sunrise or before sunset—is the ideal time to catch the brilliant cobalt-blue of their throat pouch and their striking turquoise eyes without the harsh glare of midday sun reflecting off the water. If your camera has adjustable frame rates, choose 60fps or higher to capture the sharp details of them shaking water off their wings or landing in the surf.

Since these birds are pursuit divers and do not eat land-based food, traditional baiting will not work. Instead, focus on 'passive' attraction by ensuring the camera has a clear line of sight to a preferred perching spot. Because coastal environments are harsh, use a camera with a high IP weather-resistance rating. Salt spray can quickly cloud a lens, so check and clean the housing with a soft, damp cloth weekly. If you are setting up near a known nesting colony, maintain a significant distance and use a telephoto or zoom-capable camera to avoid disturbing the birds, as they are sensitive to close human presence during the egg-laying phase.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Brandt's Cormorant.

Double-crested Cormorant

Has a bright orange-yellow throat patch and is commonly found in freshwater lakes and rivers, unlike the strictly marine Brandt's.

Pelagic Cormorant

Much smaller and thinner-necked with a reddish throat patch during breeding and a more metallic purple-green gloss.

Great Cormorant

Found primarily on the Atlantic coast; it is larger with a white patch on the thigh and a yellow-and-white throat area.

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Frequently Asked Questions

They are strictly diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. You will see them most frequently in the early morning as they head out to forage for fish and in the late afternoon when they return to rocky roosts to dry their feathers before dusk.

Unlike garden birds, you cannot attract Brandt's Cormorant with birdseed. They are only found on properties directly adjacent to the ocean. You can encourage them to land on your coastal rocks or private pier by providing undisturbed, flat perching surfaces away from foot traffic and pets.

They eat a variety of small marine life, primarily schooling fish like anchovies, herring, and rockfish. They are also known to dive deep into kelp forests to catch squid and shrimp.

They are only common in suburban areas that are located directly on the Pacific coast. They do not fly inland to lakes or ponds, staying strictly within the marine environment of the shoreline and estuaries.

Look at the throat: Brandt's has a buffy-tan 'mustache' patch and a blue throat (in breeding season), whereas the Double-crested has a bright orange-yellow throat patch. Also, Brandt's are strictly marine, while Double-crested are often found in freshwater lakes.

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