There has been this waterfowl that I have seen near my work for the past 3 months, and it has been driving me crazy trying to figure out what it is. I visited as many websites(ntl audobon society, DNR, etc.) and have not found anything remotely near what I am seeing.

 

Black waterfowl

pointed beak

dives underwater repeatedly(obviously to catch fish)

a crest or ruffle of feathers around the head/neck

 

I used to spend my summers in Wisconsin/Michigan, so I am pretty familiar with what a loon is and what it looks like, and this is NOT it. If anyone could help me, it would help me go towards sanity.....maybe.

If the bill is hooked, you probably have a double-crested cormorant. If the bill is spear-shaped, it could be an anhinga (aka "snakebird"). Anhingas are rarely seen that far north, but there arre rare sightings as far up as Wisconsin. DC cormorants breed as far up as Alaska nd Nova Scotia, so I'd say that is more likely your bird.

 

pix:

double-crested cormorant, note the hooked bill

 

anhinga - longer neck and spear-like bill

 

Let me know if this was any help.

If the bill is hooked, you probably have a double-crested cormorant.  If the bill is spear-shaped, it could be an anhinga (aka "snakebird").  Anhingas are rarely seen that far north, but there arre rare sightings as far up as Wisconsin.  DC cormorants breed as far up as Alaska nd Nova Scotia, so I'd say that is more likely your bird.

 

pix:

double-crested cormorant, note the hooked bill

 

anhinga - longer neck and spear-like bill

 

Let me know if this was any help.

 

Im thinking its the DC cormorant. It is definitely one of those two birds. I thought cormorants were more based in southern states, so i automatically ruled them out in my head. My grandfather used to tell me about them being all over when he lived in florida.

 

Thanks for the help flaxx

Yeah, the cormorants are actually pretty wide ranging, although they are mostly coastal. They are very adaptable, however, as the southeastern catfish farmers have come to find out. Cormorants cost them probably a quarter of their fingerling-sized fish every year, and it has led to a lot of controversy over the need for aquaculturists to resort to lethal control means.

 

The cormorants and anhingas are pretty closely related, and they both lack the waterproofing on their feathers that other waterfowl have, so you'll see both of them on land with their wings stretched out sunning themselves dry after foraging.