Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum · Also known as: cormorant
Dark diver that surfaces with a fish. Common on bay pilings, channel markers, and Assateague waters.
Quick facts
| Group | Seabird |
|---|---|
| Likelihood nearby | ★★★★★ |
| Habitats | Coastal bays, Inlet, Offshore / ocean, Assateague National Seashore, Assateague State Park |
| Seasons (this coast) | year-round, migration |
How to recognize them
- All-dark waterbird with a hooked bill and orange-yellow throat pouch skin.
- Often holds wings open to dry after diving.
Biology notes
- Pursues fish underwater; nests in colonies in trees or on islands.
Where to see them around Ocean City
- Ocean City Inlet, marina pilings, and bay channel markers.
- Assateague bayside waters and oyster bars.
When to look
- Year-round presence with migration spikes; winter birds are common on ice-free bays.
Viewing tips & etiquette
- Wing-spreading birds on pilings are usually cormorants, not Anhingas (rare here).
