Urile urile
The Red-faced Cormorant (Urile urile) is a striking pelagic seabird, renowned for its brilliant facial coloration and robust build, making it a favorite among birders in its subarctic range. Measuring about 76–89 cm (30–35 in) in length with a wingspan of 120–130 cm (47–51 in) and weighing around 2.0–2.8 kg (4.4–6.2 lbs), this cormorant boasts iridescent black plumage with a distinct green sheen. Its most distinctive field mark is the bare, vibrant red skin covering its face, lores, and gular...
Exclusively marine, inhabiting cold, temperate to subarctic coastal waters, primarily nesting on rocky islands, sheer cliff faces, and secluded sea stacks.
Primarily piscivorous, feeding on small schooling fish like sand lance, capelin, and herring, as well as various bottom-dwelling fish and marine invertebrates. Foraging occurs via pursuit-diving in cold coastal waters.
Red-faced Cormorants are diurnal birds, spending their days foraging in nearshore waters and roosting communally on rocky ledges or cliffs at night. They are expert pursuit-divers, using their webbed feet to propel themselves underwater, often diving to depths of 30-50 meters for food. During the...
The Red-faced Cormorant is an obligate resident of the North Pacific, primarily found along the coasts of Alaska and Northeast Asia. Its main breeding strongholds include the Aleutian Islands, Kodiak Island, Prince William Sound, and the coast of mainland Alaska in North America. Across the Berin...
Least Concern
- The Red-faced Cormorant possesses the most extensive and vibrant bare red facial skin among all cormorant species, intensifying dramatically during the breeding season. - It was recently reclassified into the genus Urile, along with the Pelagic and Brandt's Cormorants, based on genetic studies ...