Mystery Cormorant (3 Viewers)

[samskywalker]

Hello from Howard Marsh in Ohio, USA!

I spotted this mystery bird earlier today not too far from Lake Erie! I was wondering what it could be since it does not look like the double crested cormorants that we usually see in Ohio. Any suggestions are appreciated!!

 

[Bewick]

Do you mind giving your reasonings to why you think it looks odd? To me personally it looks fine for a D.C. Cormorant.

 

[samskywalker]

The white breast is throwing me off, I’m used to them appearing all black. Sorry about the quality of the image!

 

[Bewick]

The white breast is throwing me off, I’m used to them appearing all black. Sorry about the quality of the image!

Juvenile/immatures can have varying amounts of pale on the throat/upper breast section.

Edit- Here's a pic of a juvenile: ML533391751 - Double-crested Cormorant - Macaulay Library

 

[samskywalker]

Thank you so much!! That makes more sense!

 

[Harrybongo]

The white breast is throwing me off, I’m used to them appearing all black. Sorry about the quality of the image!

Hi. If you have them, it shows the variation in colour, in both Sibley field guides.