The Brant’s CormorantPhalacrocorax penicillatus has a much smaller yellow patch at the base of its lower jaw compared to the Double-crested Cormorant., It is sometimes easy to miss. The Pelagic Cormorant has no yellow patch. Its neck and birr are thinner than for the other two cormorants.
Another distinctive feature of Brant’s Cormorant is the iridescent blue patch under the mandible. It matches the color of its eyes and is more easily seen when the cormorant looks up 1382. It is just barely seen in photo 8799.