Brandt’s Cormorant (Urile penicillatus)
Resources
Status
- BC: Red – S1B, S4N (2015)
- COSEWIC: Not Ranked
- SARA: Not Ranked
- Global: Secure (2016)
Description
A large black seabird with a long neck and a vivid blue throat during the breeding season. Feeds on fish and squid.
Habitat
Inhabits marine coastlines and estuaries, breedings in colonies on small islets and cliffs.
Range
Endemic to the Pacific coast of North America., from Alaska south to Mexico.
Threats
The breeding population is extremely small in British Columbia, with only a handful of historical sites and possibly one remaining active breeding site. Oil spills, gill-net entanglement, human disturbance, and pollution threaten this species.
Galiano Status
This species is often sighted in the waters around Galiano Island, especially in Porlier and Active passes.