Pelagic Cormorants are mostly dark, medium-to-large aquatic birds known for their long necks, hooked bills, and excellent diving skills, using their webbed feet to hunt fish underwater. Often seen perched with wings spread to dry because their feathers lack the waterproofing of other water birds, making them less buoyant but better for diving. Cormorants are colonial nesters and sometimes hunt cooperatively. Cormorants are birds in the family Phalacrocoracidae, while ducks are Anatidae. The Cormorant species in North America are the Double-crested Cormorant, Great Cormoran, Neotropic Cormorant, Red faced Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, and Brandt's Cormorant. They are sometimes confused with Geese or Loons due to their long necks on the water. They are famous for their Guano as they are significant producers of the valuable fertilizer, specially in South America. They are a protected species, and for the first violation a person would be subject to a fine up to $100,000 under Title 18 of the US Code and/or imprisonment for up to one year. 🥸
