Art by Barry Kent MacKay

Art by Barry Kent MacKay

(Artwork - 039)
Double-crested Cormorant

This shows a whole bird, similar age, exercising her wings. At this age they can't yet fly, and they are still covered with a layer of thick, curled down that is a dull black or brownish-black colour, although the flight feathers of the wings, and the tail feathers, are rapidly emerging, and the body contour plumage is starting to emerge beneath the down...the head is about the last to attain the first mature feathers.

The nestlings are very vulnerable to disturbance, and will defend themselves by vomiting, biting, or by making a dash for the water. They can swim, although not for too long as they'll become waterlogged, or chilled. I love having the opportunity to show one species in so many different ways. These are both gouache watercolours on paper, smaller than life size. The species is widely distributed in North America and parts of the West Indies.

Please read Why People Kill Cormorants...

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Copyright © Barry Kent MacKay
Barry describes himself as a Canadian artist/writer/naturalist.
See his website: http://barrykentmackay.ca/