Double-Crested Cormorant Art Print & Greeting Card by Gene Irvin (1934–2026)

Double-Crested Cormorant | Art Print & Greeting Card by Gene Irvin (1934–2026)

The Double-Crested Cormorant is one of North America’s most widespread waterbirds — and one of the most distinctive. That yellow-orange facial skin, the long hooked bill tilted skyward, the dark iridescent plumage that never quite dries. Gene Irvin captured it in 2018 in full-body portrait: perched upright on a post, wings slightly spread in that characteristic drying pose, dense stippled pen and ink over a soft blue watercolor wash.

Cormorants are expert divers, plunging beneath the surface to chase small fish with powerful webbed feet. Unlike most waterbirds, their feathers are not fully waterproof — which is why they’re so often seen perched with wings outstretched, drying in the sun. With a wingspan of about 4 feet and brilliant turquoise eyes during breeding season, they are a striking presence on both fresh and saltwater.

Available in:

• 8×10 Giclée print
• Greeting card with envelope

Why collectors love it: A favorite of anglers, birders, and coastal wildlife enthusiasts — the cormorant is a common sight but rarely the subject of fine art. Gene’s full-body portrait captures the bird’s prehistoric quality and distinctive posture in precise stippled detail.

Shipping & Details: Ships from Arizona. Prints flat-packed. Greeting cards ship First Class. A lasting piece from the collected works of Gene Irvin (1934–2026).