During the breeding season adult Double-crested Cormorants are a bit more striking than they are during the nonbreeding season because of the changes in their plumage and inside their mouths.
Wait. What? Inside their mouths?
Double-crested Cormorant showing the electric blue lining of its mouth
Yes. During the breeding season even the inside of the mouths of Double-crested Cormorants show changes, the lining inside their mouths turns into a deep, electric or cobalt blue.
This photo taken last month at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge shows that blue mouth lining and even though the cormorant was probably going out of breeding plumage by that time it was still a fairly bright blue.
This cormorant was just swimming by when it opened its bill wide and I felt lucky to be able to get a few shows that showed that blue lining.
Life is good…
Mia
Click here to see more of my Double-crested Cormorant photos plus facts and information about this species.
Oh my gosh! Wow! Amazing!
Very interesting. Had no idea.
Stunning. They swim low in the water don’t they?
The first time I saw this in a rehab situation I was stunned!
Wow, you just never know what colors will show up on a bird. Very interesting.