Brandt's Cormorant Photos, Phalacrocorax penicillatus

Photos of Phalacrocorax penicillatus, Brandt's cormorant
1 -2- 3 4
Brandt's Cormorant portrait in shade with ocean in the background. Its striking blue eyes and gular pouch (throat) can be seen, along with thin white feathers on its checks and shoulders. A bit of fluff is on its beak after it has been preening its feathers, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Male Brandt's Cormorant courtship display with head pointing skyward and wings partially spread. Note the blue throat, a type of breeding plumage. Only males skypoint, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Brandt's Cormorant carrying nesting material to its nest, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
A Brandt's Cormorant tends to its built on sea cliffs. Note the colors it assumes during mating season: striking blue gular pouch (throat) along with faint blue-green iridescence in its plumage, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Brandt's Cormorant portrait in afternoon sun with ocean whitewash in the background, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Male Brandt's Cormorant Skypointing, Courtship Display, Breeding Plumage with blue throat and white pin-feathers, La Jolla. Skypointing is an interesting courtship behavior that many birds practice. Among Brandt's Cormorants the male performs this, likely as a way of attracting a mate to the nest he has built by showing off his striking blue throat. He tips his head backward showing off his striking blue throat, and partially raises his wings. Seen here on seacliffs above the ocean, where the fading light of late afternoon just illuminates his head and wings, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Brandt's cormorant. La Jolla, California, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Brandt's Cormorant on the nest, nesting material composed of kelp and sea weed, La Jolla, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Brandt's Cormorant with eggs on the nest, nesting material composed of kelp and sea weed, La Jolla, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Brandt's Cormorant Skypointing, Courtship Display, La Jolla, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Brandt's Cormorants Gather on Ocean Cliffs in La Jolla, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Brandt's Cormorants Gather on Ocean Cliffs, La Jolla, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Brandt's Cormorant portrait, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Brandt's Cormorant in Flight, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Brandt's Cormorant portrait, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Brandt's Cormorant Skypointing, Courtship Display, La Jolla, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Brandt's Cormorant portrait, set against the Pacific Ocean, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Brandt's Cormorant in Flight, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Brandt's Cormorant in Flight, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Brandts Cormorant portrait in shade, over the ocean, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Brandt's Cormorant in Flight, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Brandt's cormorants flying over a breaking wave, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Brandt's Cormorant portrait, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Brandt's Cormorant portrait, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Brandt's Cormorant Portrait with Breeding Plumage, with blue throat and white feathers on each side of the head, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Brandt's Cormorant Portrait with Breeding Plumage, with blue throat and white feathers on each side of the head, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Brandt's Cormorant flying with wings spread wide as it slows to land at its nest on ocean cliffs, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Mated pair of Brandt's Cormorants tend to the nest they have built on sea cliffs. Note the colors they assume during mating season: striking blue gular pouch (throat) along with some blue-green iridescence in their plumage, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
Male Brandt's Cormorant Skypointing, Courtship Display, Breeding Plumage with blue throat and white pin-feathers, La Jolla. Skypointing is an interesting courtship behavior that many birds practice. Among Brandt's Cormorants the male performs this, likely as a way of attracting a mate to the nest he has built by showing off his striking blue throat. He tips his head backward showing off his striking blue throat, and partially raises his wings. Seen here on seacliffs above the ocean, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Brandt's Cormorant carrying nesting material to its nest, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, La Jolla, California
1 -2- 3 4
All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.