Double-crested cormorants over Monterey Bay, California, United States

Double-crested cormorants over Monterey Bay, California, USA

Today's image has a little airborne drama: double-crested cormorants are cruising above the waves of Monterey Bay, California, United States. Widespread across North America, these adaptable seabirds may migrate or remain year-round, depending on the population. Along California's coast, bays, wetlands and estuaries provide important habitat for birds travelling the Pacific Flyway.

Double-crested cormorants are expert underwater hunters, diving from the surface and using their webbed feet to chase fish. Their diet is made up mostly of fish, although they may also take crustaceans and amphibians. After a dive, you may spot one perched with its wings spread wide, helping its feathers dry. Unlike ducks, cormorants have relatively little preen oil, so their feathers can become waterlogged, which may help them move efficiently underwater. They also breed in colonies, building stick nests on the ground or in trees. From a soaring flock to a fishing dive, each sighting offers a glimpse into the life of a bird built for both air and water.