Bird field guide · Cormorants and Shags

Photographing the Brandt's Cormorant

How to photograph the Brandt's Cormorant (Urile penicillatus): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (March, April, May and June).

70–100 cm1/2500–1/4000 s
Brandt's Cormorant (Urile penicillatus)
Photo: © Franco Folini, some rights reserved (CC BY) via iNaturalist
70–100 cm
Typical length (family range)
1/1000 s
Shutter: perched / still
1/2500–1/4000 s
Shutter: action / flight
f/7.1–f/8
Aperture
20,606
Research-grade sightings in N. America
ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float
Shutter (still)1/1000 s
Shutter (action)1/2500–1/4000 s
Aperturef/7.1–f/8
FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionBright sand and surf fool meters — dial in exposure manually or with auto-ISO and compensation.
DriveHigh-speed burst
Lens100–400 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 85 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally.

Distance⅓ of frame (FF)½ of frame (FF)⅓ of frame (APS-C)⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)69 mm104 mm46 mm34 mm
10 m (33 ft)138 mm207 mm92 mm69 mm
15 m (49 ft)207 mm311 mm138 mm103 mm
20 m (66 ft)276 mm415 mm184 mm138 mm
30 m (98 ft)414 mm622 mm276 mm207 mm
50 m (164 ft)689 mm1,037 mm459 mm345 mm

When to find it#

Jan: 7% Jan Feb: 8% Feb Mar: 10% Mar Apr: 12% Apr May: 11% May Jun: 9% Jun Jul: 9% Jul Aug: 8% Aug Sep: 8% Sep Oct: 5% Oct Nov: 6% Nov Dec: 7% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: March, April, May and June.

About the Brandt's Cormorant#

Brandt's cormorant (Urile penicillatus) is a strictly marine bird of the cormorant family of seabirds that inhabits the Pacific coast of North America. It ranges, in the summer, from Alaska to the Gulf of California, but the population north of Vancouver Island migrates south during the winter. Its specific name, penicillatus is Latin for a painter's brush (pencil of hairs), in reference to white plumes on its neck and back during the early breeding season.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia via iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field-craft tips#

  • Drying wings on posts — easy, characterful poses.
  • Bright sand and surf fool meters — dial in exposure manually or with auto-ISO and compensation.
  • Sightings peak in March, April, May and June, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

  • The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
  • Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
  • Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
  • Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.

More Cormorants and Shags#

Double-crested Cormorant Double-crested CormorantNannopterum auritum Neotropic Cormorant Neotropic CormorantNannopterum brasilianum Pelagic CormorantUrile pelagicus

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph a Brandt's Cormorant?

At about 85 cm long, a brandt's cormorant fills a third of a full-frame image at 10 m with roughly 138 mm, or at 20 m with 276 mm.

What shutter speed should I use for a Brandt's Cormorant?

1/1000 s when it's still; 1/2500–1/4000 s for action.

When is the best time to photograph a Brandt's Cormorant?

Observations in North America peak in March, April, May and June. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and activity.

Sources & licences#

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources