60: Double-Crested Cormorants: The Underwater Fishing Birds Most People Misunderstand 🐦

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we dive into the fascinating world of the Double-crested Cormorant—one of North America’s most unique and misunderstood waterbirds.Known for their expert diving ability, hooked bills, and signature wing-spreading behavior, Double-crested Cormorants are incredible underwater hunters that thrive in lakes, rivers, wetlands, and coastal habitats. We explore what makes these birds such effective fishers, why they’re often seen drying their wings, and how they fit into wetland ecosystems across North America.In this episode, Field Museum ornithologists and curators of birds John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ Pole and Amanda Marquart to discuss cormorant behavior, migration, bird identification, nesting habits, and the conservation challenges surrounding this often controversial species.We also answer a listener question about swans, including swan behavior, identification, and what makes these iconic waterbirds so fascinating to birdwatchers and nature lovers alike.If you love birding, birdwatching, waterbirds, wetland wildlife, bird behavior, ornithology, conservation, and fascinating bird facts, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:YouTube InstagramTikTokBlueSky