Breeding adults are black with shiny purple-green highlights. They have a coral-red throat patch and neat white patches on the flanks during the breeding season.
This is one of three cormorant types that live year round at Point Lobos.
They nest on coastal cliffs (Sea Lion Point) and forage in rocky water, rarely traveling far from shore despite their name. Unlike Brandt’s and Double-crested, Pelagic Cormorants are not very gregarious and are usually seen as single birds, pairs or small groups of 6 to 8.
Pelagic Cormorants can hold their breath for 2 minutes and dive as deep as 138 feet to catch fish.
The Pelagic Cormorant uses its own guano (feces) to cement its nest materials to the cliff face.
Photo by Yvonne Wright
Photo by Carol Greenstreet
Pelagic Cormorant relies on
Sun
Water
Nutrients