There are two curly black crests on the head. P. auritus shows orange on throat sac and lores, dusky bill, black feet, green iris, and blue eyelids. In the winter adults lack crests, show no blue on eyelids, have a yellow bill, with red on gular sac, and yellow behind the ocher. The young appear plain dark brown with grayish or whitish coloring underneath. For P. auritus the majority of their diet consists of fish, although crustaceans and amphibians from fresh water are also in their menu.
Cormorants dive and catch their prey underwater.
Sometimes the bird submerges gently, but more often it takes a forward leap almost clear out of the water. It swims underwater without aid from the wings except in braking. It may reach a considerable depth, but it commonly brings its catch to the surface before swallowing it, although small fish are apparently sometimes swallowed underwater. Reproduction Cormorants breed in colonies of up to three thousand pairs. The males have elaborate courtship dances, including dances in the water where he presents the female with material to build a nest.