the brandt's cormorant (phalacrocorax penicillatus) is a strictly marine bird of the cormorant family of seabirds that inhabits the pacific coast of north america .
it ranges , in the summer , from alaska to the gulf of california , but the population north of vancouver island migrates south during the winter .
its specific name , penicillatus is latin for a painter's brush (pencil of hairs), in reference to white plumes on its neck and back during the early breeding season .
the common name honors the german naturalist johann friedrich von brandt of the academy of sciences at st .
petersburg , who described the species from specimens collected on expeditions to the pacific during the early 19th century .
brandt's cormorants feed either singly or in flocks , and are adaptable in prey choice and undersea habitat .
it feeds on small fish from the surface to sea floor , obtaining them , like all cormorants , by pursuit diving using its feet for propulsion .
prey is often what is most common: in central california , rockfish from the genus sebastes is the most commonly taken , but off british columbia , it is pacific herring .
brandt's cormorant have been observed foraging at depths of over 120 feet .
during the breeding season , adults have a blue throat patch .
this species nests on the ground or on rocky outcroppings .
