Habitat
Closely associated with rock-bottom coastlines of North Pacific marine islands and isolated areas of mainland Alaska, Kamchatka and Japan; often close to shore in water less than 50 m deep. Nests on steep, relatively inaccessible slopes, on ledges averaging about 40 cm wide (Johnsgard 1993), including rocky sea islands alongside gulls, murres, and auklets. Roosts on offshore rocks or protected cliff outcroppings and forages in water near shore (< 20 km) (Causey 2002).
References
Causey, D. 2002. Red-faced cormorant (Phalacrocorax urile). In The Birds of North America, No. 617 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union.
Johnsgard, P. A. 1993. Cormorants, darters, and pelicans of the world. Smithsonian Institute Press, Washington, D.C. xiv + 445 pp.