Photo of the Month

After finishing some golf-course landscape photos recently at Dataw Island, I took advantage of the natural blind that my loaner golf cart provided and tucked behind some waxed myrtle near a lagoon and watched this immature Cormorant catch and devour a small brim. At the time, she was too far away to photograph so I decided to stay put & watch quietly. After finishing her meal, she headed toward me, straight to the bank, stopping about 40 feet from me in my borrowed, mobile photo blind. I was in a fortunate position to witness this dramatic scene while she dried her wings in the sun following her successful swim.

Eric Horan

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Double-crested Cormorant - Eric Horan Photo of the Month Nature Column - Where to go Hilton Head Island

Photo Tip: When photographing wildlife, be watchful and patient

    Double-crested Cormorant / Phalacrocorax auritus

  • Size: Length: 27 inches Wingspan: 50 inches

    • Features:

  • Large, dark waterbird with a long, hooked bill and long bill
  • Long, thin neck
  • Gular area squared off and orange, extending straight down across throat
  • Orange lores

    • Behavior:

  • Often seen perched with wings spread to dry.

    • Male/Female distinctions:

  • Almost indistinguishable

    • Other:

  • Not to be confused with Anhinga which have a longer and straight bill or Loons which have some similar behavior but no hooked bill. No other species of Cormorant have the orange lores of the Double Crested

    • Adult:

  • Black plumage (white plumes on head during nesting season)

    • Immature:

  • Pale and modeled throat & chest with a brownish back and wing tops

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