Fun Brandt's Cormorant Facts For Kids
Gallery
Brandt's cormorant is a marine seabird that belongs to the Cormorant family (Phalacrocoracidae). It is one of many cormorant birds that are native to North America and they are permanent residents near the ocean shorelines.
These birds can be seen roosting together or flying in long lines near the water on rocky shores. A large flock of these birds can be seen flying in these long lines while going towards the feeding ground.
This species was first described by Johann Friedrich von Brandt, a German naturalist in the early 19th century. The name of the cormorant is derived from the Latin words 'corvus' and 'marinus', which means a 'marine crow' or 'raven'. The scientific name of these birds, 'Phalacrocrorax', is derived from Greek words that mean 'bald crow'.
They are distantly related to Anhinga birds, as 36 species of cormorant birds along with four Anhinga bird species constitute the family Phalacrocoracidae. Keep reading for more interesting facts about Brandt's Cormorant!
If you liked this article about Brandt's cormorant facts, also check out these other articles with amazing facts about collared forest falcon and the saker falcon.
Brandt's Cormorant Interesting Facts
What type of animal is Brandt's cormorant?
Brandt's cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) is a type of bird.
What class of animal does a Brandt's cormorant belong to?
Brandt's cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) belongs to the Aves class of animals.
How many Brandt's cormorants are there in the world?
According to a 2002 study, the global breeding population of Brandt's cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) has been estimated to be around 151,000 individuals. A 2017 study claimed that the population of this bird species had reduced to 100,000 individuals.
Where does a Brandt's cormorant live?
Brandt's cormorants are North American birds, found along the Pacific Coast of North America. They can be seen from the southern part of British Columbia to Baja California in Mexico.
Their range mainly extends from California to Washington as these cormorants are dependent on the California current for their food. The double-crested cormorant can be seen in the Alberta province of Canada, but there have been no records of the Brandt's cormorant being spotted there.
What is a Brandt's cormorant's habitat?
A typical Brandt's cormorant habitat can be found along Pacific coastlines and also in estuaries, bays, and coastal lagoons or rocky islands in California or Baja California in Mexico. They can be spotted within 10 mi (16 km) of the Pacific coast unless they are migrating.
Who do Brandt's cormorants live with?
Brandt's cormorants are observed to be breeding in dense colonies. They also forage in large flocks and can easily mix with other marine bird species. They also participate in cooperative fishing by forming a large group that catches their prey underwater together.
How long does a Brandt's cormorant live?
The average lifespan of a Brandt's cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) bird is around 10 years.
How do they reproduce?
Brandt's cormorants are found breeding in dense colonies which may also include other seabirds. Male birds choose a breeding or nest site and try to attract a mate while guarding their breeding site against competitors.
In order to attract females, they show off their blue throat pouch, flutter their wings, and thrust their heads back and forth repeatedly. The male gathers seaweed and algae while the female builds a nest between the breeding months of March and July.
The pair may even reuse the same nest site annually. The female lays three to six pale blue eggs.
After hatching, both parents look after the young and feed the offspring by regurgitation. Both parents incubate the eggs and provide warmth when required.
What is their conservation status?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed Brandt's cormorant as a species of Least Concern in its Red List.
However, their overall population is showing a trend of decline due to major oil spills in the marine ecosystem, illegal hunting, and disturbances in their environment, leading to the abandonment of colonies or the destruction of their eggs.
Brandt's Cormorant Fun Facts
What do Brandt's cormorants look like?
The Brandt's cormorant bird has a long, black body, with a sheer dark blue tinge. It has a dark-colored bill with a hooked tip and its legs are short and black in color.
During the breeding season, adults exhibit bright blue eyes. They also exhibit a blue throat patch which goes away once the breeding season is over. During the breeding season, they also have white plumes and feathers on their head, neck, and back.
Brandt's cormorant wings are typically not very waterproof so they have to spread these out in order to dry their feathers after they dive underwater. Drying their feathers helps these cormorants to forage easily underwater.
How cute are they?
Brandt's cormorant birds are not conventionally very cute. However, their unique blue throat and the striking color of their feathers set them apart from other cormorants of North America.
How do they communicate?
Brandt's cormorant birds are less vocal compared to many other North American cormorant birds. Their sounds can only be heard from a few feet away. However, these birds are quite noisy during their nesting period when they make croaking and grunting sounds. Male birds are more vocal than females, who produce only soft sounds.
How big is a Brandt's cormorant?
The average length of a Brandt's cormorant bird lies between the range of 27.5-31.1 in (70-79 cm). They are almost the same size as an Anhinga bird, which is roughly 29.5–37.4 in (75-95 cm) in length.
How fast can a Brandt's cormorant fly?
While the average Brandt's cormorant flight speed is not known, it can be assumed that they can fly quite fast. Studies show that some species of cormorant birds can fly up to a speed of 35 mph (56.3 kph).
How much does a Brandt's cormorant weigh?
The average weight of a Brandt's cormorant bird lies between the range of 3.08-5.95 lb (1.4-2.7 kg).
What are the male and female names of the species?
There are no distinct names for male and female birds of the species. Therefore, they are simply referred to as male and female Brandt's cormorants.
What would you call a baby Brandt's cormorant?
A baby Brandt's cormorant does not have a unique name and is usually referred to as a chick.
What do they eat?
The Brandt's cormorant species has a diet that mainly depends on fish such as herring fish and rockfish. They also eat squid, shrimp, and crabs. These birds catch their prey by diving underwater and grabbing it in their bills. This species can forage from the surface of the water to a depth of nearly 164 ft (50 m).
Are they dangerous?
The Brandt's cormorant bird species is not known to be dangerous or harmful to human beings.
Would they make a good pet?
Brandt's cormorant would not make a good pet as it does not possess any domestic, pet-like qualities. In addition to that, this bird species prefers its wild habitat on the Pacific Coast where it can catch its own prey.
Did you know...
Brandt's cormorants are mostly permanent residents of their range which extends from California to Washington. They may also be seen to locally migrate along the coast wherever they can find food. This mostly happens in the winter season, which coincides with their nonbreeding season.
There are many collective nouns to denote a group of cormorants such as a flight, gulp, rookery, sunning, or swim of cormorants.
Cormorants are highly intelligent, in fact some claim that these birds can count to seven and beyond!
Different types of Brandt's cormorant
There are 42 types of cormorant birds all over the world. Among them, there are six types of cormorants found in North America.
The most common them is the double-crested cormorant, which is seen in Canada around the regions of Quebec and Alaska. Brandt's cormorants are often confused with double-crested cormorants.
The great cormorant can be found on the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean near Florida. The pelagic cormorant can be seen along the Pacific coastline, while the neotropic cormorant is found in the south of the continent near Texas. The red-faced cormorant can be seen near southern Alaska.
All these North American cormorants share similar physical characteristics and diets. Compared to other cormorant birds, Brandt's cormorants can be found on the shorelines from California to Washington.
The Brandt's cormorant's wings
The wingspan of Brandt's cormorant species is around 48 in (1.2 m). Their wide wings help them dive underwater and catch their prey.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these sea eagle facts and Gyrfalcon facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable great cormorant coloring pages.
We Want Your Photos!
More for You
See All
Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.
Disclaimer
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.
