#cormorant

I was looking up facts about Cormorants to find a title for this and found out about the liver bird a mythological creature from liverpool that is literally just a cormorant which I find kinda funny

the flightless cormorant, sometimes known as the galápagos cormorant, is a unique cormorant species endemic to the galapágos - they are found along the rocky coastlines of the isabela and fernandina islands. they are the only example of a cormorant that has lost the ability to fly through evolution. this evolution initially occurred due to the birds being found on an island free of predators - however, human introduction of cats, dogs, and pigs has made survival more challenging without flight. they are classified in genus nannopterum, alongside the neotropic cormorant & double crested cormorant. they are the largest living member of their family at 2.5–5.0 kg (5.5–11.0 lb), though their wings are approximately one-third of the size that would be necessary for a bird of this weight to take off. the sexes are similar in appearance, with blackish upperparts and a brown underside; however, males are larger and heavier than females. the flightless cormorant’s keel (an extension of the breastbone, where muscles needed for flight attach) is also significantly reduced compared to other cormorants. however, flightless cormorants are still adept hunters whose webbed feet and powerful legs help propel them underwater in pursuit of their prey. these birds feed near the sea floor, with their diet consisting of fish, octopi, and other small marine mammals. surprisingly, despite being birds who feed by diving underwater, the flightless cormorant shares a trait found across cormorants - their feathers are not waterproof. they spend time after each dive drying off in the sunlight in preparation for their next hunt. their hair-like, dense body feathers trap air, which prevents the birds from becoming waterlogged. the flightless cormorant is currently listed as ‘vulnerable’ by the IUCN due to their limited range and population size.

Brandt’s Cormorant (Urile penicillatus), courtship displays, family Phalacrocoracidae, order Suliformes, La Jolla, CA, USA

I'm having my first solo exhibition in Tokyo in a few weeks! It's a collection of various works from the last few years and some new pieces, mostly themed around the natural world.

2026 March 13th-22nd • 13:00-20:00 at GalleryBlue3143 near Omotesando station.

Opening reception Saturday March 14th • 17:00-20:00

I will also be doing a live drawing demo in the gallery 15:00-17:00 on both Sat 14th March and Sat 21st. All welcome, thank you!