Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
At a Glance
An unmistakable bird of coastal waters, the Brown Pelican often flies low over the waves in single file, flapping and gliding in unison. Their feeding behavior is spectacular, as they plunge headlong into the water in pursuit of fish. The current abundance of this species in the United States represents a success story for conservationists, as the Brown Pelican was seriously endangered as recently as the early 1970s. Ending the use of DDT and other persistent pesticides allowed for the Brown Pelican's resurgence.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Duck-like Birds, Pelicans
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Coasts and Shorelines, Open Ocean, Saltwater Wetlands
Region
California, Florida, Mid Atlantic, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, Texas, Western Canada
Behavior
Flap/Glide, Formation, Running, Soaring, Swimming
Population
370.000
Range & Identification
Migration & Range Maps
After breeding season, Brown Pelican flocks move north along both Atlantic and Pacific coasts. These birds return southward to warmer waters by winter. Small numbers of immatures regularly wander inland in summer, especially in the southwest.
Description
Sexes similar; male heavier — Length: 3 ft 3 in–4 ft 6 in (1–1.4 m); wingspan: 6 ft 7 in (2 m); weight: 4 lb–8 lb 13 oz (1.8–4 kg). The Brown Pelican is a massive, stocky seabird with a long neck and an unmistakable, oversized bill featuring a stretchy throat pouch. Adult plumage is primarily silver-gray on the upperparts with a dark blackish-brown belly. During the nonbreeding season, the head is white with a yellowish wash on the crown; in the breeding season, the back and sides of the neck turn a rich, dark reddish-brown. Immatures are duller and almost entirely grayish-brown above with a distinct pale whitish belly. To distinguish it from the American White Pelican, note this species' much darker overall color and its unique behavior of plunge-diving for fish from high in the air.
Size
About the size of a Heron
Color
Brown, Gray, White, Yellow
Wing Shape
Broad, Fingered, Long, Tapered
Tail Shape
Short
Songs and Calls
Usually silent, but utters low grunts on nesting grounds.
Call Pattern
Flat
Call Type
Croak/Quack, Odd, Scream
Habitat
Salt bays, beaches, ocean. Brown Pelican mostly flies over shallow waters along the immediate coast, especially on sheltered bays; sometimes seen well out to sea. Nests on islands, which may be either bare and rocky or covered with mangroves or other trees. Strays may appear on fresh water lakes inland.
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Behavior
Eggs
3, sometimes 2-4. White, becoming nest-stained. Incubation is by both sexes, roughly 28-30 days.
Young
Both Brown Pelican parents feed young. The young may leave ground nests after about 5 weeks and gather in groups, where returning parents apparently can recognize their own offspring. The young may remain in tree nests longer (perhaps up to 9 weeks) before clambering about in the branches. The age at first flight varies, reportedly 9-12 weeks or more. Adults continue to feed their young for some time after they leave the colony. Typically, there is 1 brood per year.
Feeding Behavior
Brown Pelicans forage by diving from the air, from as high as 60 ft above water, plunging into water headfirst and coming to surface with fish in bill. Tilts bill down to drain water out of pouch, then tosses head back to swallow. Occasionally, it will scavenge and can become tame, even approaching fishermen for handouts.
Diet
The Brown Pelican's diet is almost entirely fish, including types known to be important in some areas, such as menhaden, smelt, and anchovies. They also consume some crustaceans.
Nesting
Nests in colonies. The Brown Pelican chooses a site on the ground or cliff of islands, or on low trees such as mangroves. The nest, built by the female with material gathered by the male, may be a simple scrape in the soil, a heap of debris with a depression at the top, or a large stick nest in a tree.
Conservation
Conservation Status
Once a symbol of environmental crisis, the Brown Pelican is now a major conservation success story. Between the 1950s and 1970s, populations plummeted due to organochlorine pesticides. The species was placed on the Federal Endangered Species List in 1970. Following the 1972 ban on DDT, populations began a steady recovery. The species was delisted in the southeastern U.S. in 1985 and removed from the Endangered Species List across the rest of its range in 2009.
Climate Threats Facing the Brown Pelican
Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too.
