Double-crested Cormorant

water birds · diving hunter · North America

Expert underwater diver. The double-crested cormorant hunts by swimming and diving deep to catch fish, using its dark feathers and streamlined body to move swiftly through the water.

Wet feathers need drying. Unlike most water birds, cormorants have feathers that are not waterproof, so after diving and fishing, they must climb out and spread their wings to dry them in the sun.

Fancy breeding style. During breeding season, this bird grows a double crest with black feathers mixed with white plumes, making it look extra fancy and impressive to other cormorants.

Widespread across continents. You can find double-crested cormorants from Alaska and the Aleutian Islands all the way down to Florida and Mexico, near rivers, lakes, and coastal areas.

Made a big comeback. Once these birds became dangerously rare because of a pesticide called DDT, but thanks to protections, their numbers have grown dramatically in recent years.