Date: 8/18/25 7:00 pm From: Robert O'Brien <baro...> Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Neotropic vs. Double-crested Cormorant
And then there are the hybrids. One reported even so far away as here in
Portland Oregon. Note I said 'reported'.
Bob OBrien Portland.
[image: image.png]
On Sat, Aug 16, 2025 at 6:10 AM Marcel Gahbauer <
<marcel...> wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> I'm curious for feedback on an unusual cormorant observation I had earlier
> this week.
>
> I was attending an event on private property adjacent to Lake Ontario,
> when my 8-year-old son came to tell me there was a cormorant 'trapped' in
> the rocks along the shore. It wasn't trapped as such - but it was just
> floating there in a small space between rocks, and occasionally being
> pushed into them by the waves. It looked like one eye was damaged or
> diseased, and locals told me some cormorants had washed up recently and
> were presumed to have died from botulism, so my initial thoughts were
> focused on the health of the bird more than its ID (given that the only
> regularly occurring species in Ontario is Double-crested).
>
> However, upon sharing a few photos with friends, the suggestion was raised
> that it could be a juvenile Neotropic Cormorant, given the proportionately
> long tail, relatively darker upper breast, and generally sleek shape. In
> retrospect, it was relatively small - I didn't notice that at the time
> given the circumstances but I was as close as 5 m and so it seemed like a
> large bird based on proximity more than reality perhaps. On the other
> hand, the bill still looks to me quite sturdy and more like that of a
> Double-crested Cormorant.
>
> Although I've seen Neotropic Cormorant once previously in Ontario (more
> conveniently among a group of Double-crested) and a few times in its
> regular range, I don't have enough experience to be confident in resolving
> these seemingly conflicting aspects of ID, and would welcome any insights.
> Photos are posted in my eBird report at
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S267572991 >
> Thanks!
>
> Marcel Gahbauer
> Ottawa, Ontario
> <marcel...><mailto:<marcel...> >
> Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html >
