Bird Guide

Double-crested Cormorant vs Neotropic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)

Double-crested Cormorant

Nannopterum auritum

1.8 kgMarine

The double-crested cormorant is a large waterbird with a stocky body, long neck, medium-sized tail, webbed feet, and a medium-sized hooked bill. It has a body length of between 70 and 90 cm (28 and 35 in) long, with a wingspan of between 114 and 123 cm (45 and 48 in). Double-crested cormorants weigh between 1.2 and 2.5 kg (2.6 and 5.5 lb). Males and females do not display sexual dimorphism. This species has dark-colored plumage with bare supra-loreal skin and gular skin that is yellow or orange.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Double-crested Cormorant
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: lwolfartist · CC BY 2.0
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum)

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

1.2 kgWetland

This bird is 64 cm (25 in) long with a 100 cm (39 in) wingspan. Adult males weigh from 1.1 to 1.5 kg (2.4 to 3.3 lb), adult females 50 to 100 g (1.8 to 3.5 oz) less. Birds of the southern populations tend to be bigger than the more northerly birds. It is small and slender, especially compared to the larger, heavier-looking double-crested cormorant. It has a long tail and frequently holds its neck in an S-shape. Adult plumage is mainly black, with a yellow-brown throat patch.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Neotropic Cormorant
Recorded by Oliver Komar · Call · El Zamorano, San Antonio de Oriente, Departamento de Francisco Morazán, Honduras · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Double-crested Cormorant and Neotropic Cormorant.