Re: Cormorants, anhingas & soaked feathers

[Ian Paulsen <birdbooker@zipcon.net>]

HI:
 I think you feel for the "urban myth" of the ornithological world.
Cormorants do have a uropygial gland. Its the feather structure: the
barbules are spaced farther apart, and they hook together less readily,
allowing water to collect on the spaces  between, giving cormorants
wetable feathers. They probably spread their wings for thermoregulation
not
just to dry out the wings.

-- 
Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way!"