Field Marks: 32 in. A widespread cormorant found in both freshwater and marine habitats, and the only cormorant usually seen in interior wetlands or other inland areas. Easily distinguished from other cormorants in flight by kinked neck. A very good swimmer and diver, it feeds chiefly on fish. Adults blackish with iridescent greenish or purplish gloss above; throat pouch yellow, bill black. Breeding birds have two inconspicuous tufts above eyes (darkest in eastern birds). Immatures brown above, paler below, with varying amounts of white on neck, breast, and belly, and some yellow on bill. Feet black on all plumages.
Range: Breeds along Pacific Coast from Alaska south to Mexico; from Idaho, Nebraska, and Great Lakes region south to Utah, s. Texas, and Mississsippi Valley; along Atlantic Coast from Newfoundland to New York and Chesapeake Bay to Texas. Winters mainly along coast from Alaska to Mexico and from s. New England to Texas.