Photo by Bill Steinkamp
Do not adjust your screen settings. The bright blue throat patch on this Brandt’s Cormorant is the real deal, and part of the bird’s breeding plumage, which also includes wispy white plumes on its neck as you can see here.
This cormorant didn’t attempt to fly away when picked up by Manhattan Beach Animal Control last Saturday, volunteer coordinator Neil Uelman reports. When it arrived at our Los Angeles center, the bird showed signs of neurological issues and was very unstable when walking or standing.
In recent days, this week’s featured patient has slowly improved and began to self-feed a few nights ago. Our L.A. center has a growing number of seabirds in care; check out the latest tally here.
Further reading:
• Brandt’s Cormorant species profile on AllAboutBirds.org