Double-crested Cormorant

It is my best guess that the tuft of feathers missing on these pair of cormorants is from protecting their young from snake predation. I have seen similar tufts of missing feathers on a cardinal that was protecting it's nest from a snake that was too close for comfort. These photos were taken in a water reclamation area that simulates everglades wetlands. It is a popular nesting site for many birds such as the anhinga, great blue heron, ibis, night herons, green herons, egrets, and red-winged blackbirds.