Drying out its wings

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Drying out its wings

January 4, 2015 by Mike Powell

I will sometimes see other birds open their wings and stretch them out for a moment, but the Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) is the only bird that I have observed that leaves its wings open for an extended period of time.

Initially I was confused when I heard the cormorant had to dry out its wings because they got waterlogged. How does a waterbird survive if its wings are not waterproof?

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, my favorite website for information about birds, provides the following explanation of this phenomenon:

“They have less preen oil than other birds, so their feathers can get soaked rather than shedding water like a duck’s. Though this seems like a problem for a bird that spends its life in water, wet feathers probably make it easier for cormorants to hunt underwater with agility and speed.”

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, Portraits, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Alexandria VA, Canon 50D, cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Kingstowne, Phalacrocorax auritus, Tamron 150-600mm telephoto | 8 Comments

8 Responses

on January 4, 2015 at 8:10 am | Reply Sue

Nice shot, Mike. A very sharp reflection below as well.
- on January 4, 2015 at 8:24 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Sue. That day was bright and sunny, unlike the gloomy days that we have been experiencing recently. It is supposed to rain off and on today, but temperature may get into the mid-60s. Yikes!
on January 4, 2015 at 9:12 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

These birds can “fly” underwater. I’ve stood on bridges and watched them and they can really move.
on January 4, 2015 at 10:43 am | Reply Dan Traun

Beautiful shot; lots of detail.
on January 4, 2015 at 12:04 pm | Reply Dan Antion

I love the pattern of feathers. I know I said that recently, but it’s true 🙂
- on January 4, 2015 at 12:47 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks< Dan. This one shows the pattern of the feathers in even greater detail than the previous shot. The wings are definitely amazing.
on January 21, 2015 at 5:55 pm | Reply Duck courtship behaviour video | Dear Kitty. Some blog

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on January 22, 2015 at 12:46 am | Reply Duck courtship behaviour video | Gaia Gazette

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