Brandt’s Cormorant, Phalacrocorax penicillatus

Brandt’s Cormorant, Phalacrocorax penicillatus. Bird photographed in the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, March 2017.

Brandt’s Cormorant, Phalacrocorax penicillatus. Birds photographed within the coastal dunes of La Jolla Cove, La Jolla, California, April 2018.

Background and Identification

Brandt’s Cormorant, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, is a member of the Phalacrocoracidae Family of Cormorants and Shags. This species is endemic to North America, inhabiting coastlines and marine environments. Brandt’s Cormorant was named after the ornithologist J.F Brandt, who first described this bird in St. Petersburg in 1838. There has always been monitoring research and biological tests occurring on this species. One of the most long-term studies done on the Brandt’s is the research regarding the relationship between breeding success rates and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which determines the timing and concentration of nutrient-rich upwelling. Upwelling increases the amount of food present at the right depths in the ocean. In Mexico, this species is called Cormorán de Brandt.

This species is a robust seabird most easily recognized by its black plumage and striking blue throat patch, which becomes even more prominent during the breeding season. They are mid-sized in stature, measuring about 90 cm. Adults are uniformly dark with a slight greenish sheen on their feathers and a long, hooked bill. During breeding, they exhibit white plumes on their head, neck, and back. Juveniles, on the other hand, are brownish with paler underparts.

Habitat and Geographical Range

Brandt’s prefer sheltered inlets, estuaries, and the open ocean. They are not usually found further than a kilometer from the coast on the open ocean but rarely venture further than a few hundred meters inland. These birds are excellent divers and feed primarily on a wide selection of fish caught by pursuit-diving to depths up to 120 m (400 feet). Occasionally, they feed on cephalopods and other invertebrates.

Geographically, Brandt’s Cormorants are found along the Pacific Coast of North America. Their range extends from Alaska down to Baja California, Mexico. Although they are year-round residents in most of their range, northern populations winter in Mexico. During these months, they can be found in the coastal regions of the Pacific Slope including Baja California, Baja California Sur, and along the coast of the mainland from Sonora to Nayarit at elevations below 50 m (165 feet).

Common Misidentifications

Brandt’s Cormorant can be confused with other cormorant species, particularly the Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus, and the Pelagic Cormorant, Phalacrocorax pelagicus. The Double-crested Cormorant is more widespread, has a larger, orange-yellow throat patch, and lacks the blue coloration seen in Brandt’s Cormorants. The Pelagic Cormorant is smaller and more slender, with a longer neck and a distinctive red face patch during the breeding season.

Conservation Status

From a conservation perspective Brandt’s Cormorant is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. These threats include habitat disturbance, pollution, and competition with fisheries for food resources. Additionally, oil spills and other marine pollutants can have detrimental effects on their populations and habitats. Conservation efforts for this species focus on protecting their coastal habitats and minimizing human disturbances, especially during the breeding season.