Ye olde Double-crested Cormorant. The double-crests are breeding plumage curlicues, infrequently seen. Phalacrocorax auritus literally means bald crow with ears.
Gothic
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Diving birds like cormorants are an enigma. These foragers are successful hunters under water’s surface yet they cover large patches of sky with their bush-like flocks to cover great distances during migration. My first impression of the bird is that the wings are too small. A Brant, a goose of about the same size, has much larger wings. The reason for this seeming handicap is the balancing act the bird experiences. The wings must be large enough for flight, but not so large as to interfere with mobility and speed required for underwater hunting(fishing?). These cormorant wings must be in the Goldilocks position: just the right size to achieve good mobility in both fluid media.
Backyard and Beyond 
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