Waterfowl and waterbirdsCormorants and Shags

Double-crested Cormorant

Nannopterum auritum

The double-crested cormorant is a member of the cormorant family of water birds. It is found near rivers and lakes and in coastal areas and is widely distributed across North America, from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska down to Florida and Mexico. Measuring 70–90 cm (28–35 in) in length, it is entirely black except for a bare patch of orange-yellow facial skin and some extra plumage that it exhibits in the breeding season when it grows a double crest in which black feathers are mingled with white. Five subspecies are recognized. It mainly eats fish and hunts by swimming and diving. Its feathers, like all cormorants, are not waterproof, and it must dry them out after spending time in the water. Once threatened by the use of DDT, the numbers of this bird have increased markedly in recent years.

Where it's been seen

Hotspots with reports in the last 30 days.

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Walter E. Long Lake (HOTE-036)Oct 21 · 7:05 AM
Roy G Guerrero Park—Cliff Overlook AreaOct 20 · 6:25 PM
Circle Acres, AustinOct 20 · 10:17 AM
Longhorn Dam area, AustinOct 20 · 8:19 AM
Congress Ave. (Ann W. Richards) Bridge (HOTE 041), AustinOct 19 · 6:38 PM
Lady Bird Lake--Peninsula TrailOct 19 · 4:33 PM
Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metro ParkOct 19 · 2:18 PM
Walnut Creek WTPOct 19 · 12:37 PM
Waller Creek Trail, AustinOct 19 · 8:09 AM
Lake Travis--Bob Wentz Windy Point PkOct 19 · 8:06 AM
Martin Park, AustinOct 18 · 11:02 AM
Brackenridge Field Labs (U.Tx.)Oct 18 · 10:46 AM
Hornsby Bend (HOTE 037)Oct 18 · 7:43 AM
Turkey Bend area (Travis Co.)Oct 18 · 7:10 AM
Texas Rowing center, AustinOct 17 · 1:50 PM
Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area--Central & Eastern portion (Travis Co.)Oct 17 · 7:33 AM
Pace Bend ParkOct 12 · 8:31 AM
Lake PflugervilleOct 10 · 5:55 PM
Auditorium Shores / Disch FieldOct 6 · 6:55 PM
Milton Reimers Ranch ParkOct 4 · 11:01 AM
Platt Lane (Travis Co.)Oct 3 · 5:25 PM
Mills Pond at Wells BranchOct 3 · 9:04 AM

Also reported at 9 private locations (not shown).

Updated 12:13 PM

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Through the year

Winter visitor · usually Oct–Apr

Double-crested Cormorant: share of complete checklists, 2016–2026

Show as table

Double-crested Cormorant: share of complete checklists, 2016–2026
Week	Checklists reporting it
Jan 1–7	20%
Jan 8–14	17%
Jan 15–21	16%
Jan 22–end	16%
Feb 1–7	16%
Feb 8–14	18%
Feb 15–21	15%
Feb 22–end	18%
Mar 1–7	18%
Mar 8–14	16%
Mar 15–21	15%
Mar 22–end	12%
Apr 1–7	10%
Apr 8–14	8%
Apr 15–21	4%
Apr 22–end	2%
May 1–7	2%
May 8–14	1%
May 15–21	1%
May 22–end	1%
Jun 1–7	0.6%
Jun 8–14	1%
Jun 15–21	0.9%
Jun 22–end	0.6%
Jul 1–7	0.8%
Jul 8–14	0.4%
Jul 15–21	0.5%
Jul 22–end	0.5%
Aug 1–7	0.5%
Aug 8–14	0.5%
Aug 15–21	0.4%
Aug 22–end	0.7%
Sep 1–7	0.6%
Sep 8–14	0.5%
Sep 15–21	0.7%
Sep 22–end	2%
Oct 1–7	3%
Oct 8–14	6%
Oct 15–21	9%
Oct 22–end (now)	12%
Nov 1–7	12%
Nov 8–14	13%
Nov 15–21	15%
Nov 22–end	18%
Dec 1–7	16%
Dec 8–14	17%
Dec 15–21	19%
Dec 22–end	18%

This week: Uncommon · 12% of checklists
Peak: early Jan · 20% of checklists
Earliest eBird record here: Oct 31, 1959
Checklists reporting it: 26,482 across 56 years
eBird high count: 1,000 (Jan 31, 2013)
First of 2026: Jan 1
All year, here vs Texas: 9% of checklists here, 10% statewide
Texas counties with records: 247 of 254 since 2016

Best hotspots for it

Share of complete checklists at each hotspot that reported it (2016–2026). Hotspots with fewer than 15 checklists are left out, and the order discounts small samples, so a hotspot with few checklists can sit below one with a lower share.

1Walter E. Long Lake (HOTE-036)54% of 274
2Lady Bird Lake--Peninsula Trail58% of 79
3Waller Creek Trail, Austin60% of 57
4Longhorn Dam area, Austin54% of 143
5Lakeshore Park, Austin61% of 36
6North Shore Overlook (Town Lake), Austin58% of 33
7Martin Park, Austin51% of 63
8Town Lake Park (HOTE 042), Austin49% of 72

From the eBird Basic Dataset (Sep-2026), complete checklists only.

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