Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah

Rec. # 2011-30


Common name:

Neotropic Cormorant

Scientific name: Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Date: June 18, 2011
Time: afternoon
Length of time observed: 1 hr
Number: 3
Age: 1 apparent adult; 2 apparent first summer; one apparent adult
Sex:  
Location: 4924 South Murray Blvd., Murray, UT
County: Salt Lake
Latilong:  
Elevation: 4399 ft.
Distance to bird: 30 yds
Optical equipment: Nikon D300 DSLR camera, Nikon 80-400mm VR f4.5-5.6 lens
Weather: overcast
Light Conditions: diffuse, flat lighting due to cloud cover
Description:        Size of bird: 1/3 smaller than typical D.C. cormorant
(Description:)       Basic Shape: cormorant shape
(Description:)  Overall Pattern: brown- 1st summer; black adult
(Description:)            Bill Type: cormorant
(Description:)                              
Field Marks and
Identifying Characteristics:
Approx. 1/3 smaller than DCCOs, with proportionately longer tail. Gray bills, with V shaped white border on chin patches. (See Photo).
Song or call & method of delivery:  
Behavior: Sitting on decorative flotation device in an apartment complex pond. Birds flapping wings to dry off after successfully fishing.
Habitat: Apartment Complex Decorative Pond
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:
DCCO... from extensive experience
Previous experience with
this & similar species:
Multiple sighting, studies of NECOs in the Salt Lake Valley, beginning April 2009.
References consulted: None
Description from: From memory
Observer: Richard B. Young
Observer's address: Salt Lake City, Ut
Observer's e-mail address: richbyoung@isp.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird: Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld were first to discover and report these birds. I came by approx. 2 hours later to photo-document the birds.
Date prepared: June 19, 2011
Additional material: Photo
Additional_Comments: Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld were first to discover and report these birds. I came by approx. 2 hours later to photo document their presence/ages/behavior.