Pelicans


Muir Beach, Marin County CA				Orinda CA


Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia	San Francisco CA	Dog Isle TX	North Caicos, British West Indies	Pelican AK

Pelicans , genus Pelecanus, are of the Pelecaniformes order, Pelecanidae family. Pelicans have four toes joined by webbing. They are immense fish-eating waterbirds that have massive bills and huge throat pouches used as dip nets. The distended pouch holds 17 pints of water which is three times as much as their stomachs hold. In flight, pelicans hold their heads back.

There are two groups of pelicans; white and brown, that have little in common other than general appearance. White pelicans are considerably larger than brown pelicans.

White Pelicans

White pelicans are found on lakes, marshes, shallow lagoons. In collective groups, while swimming they herd small fish to shallow water for capture. They do not dive for food.
American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) have black flight feathers and pinkish or yellow-orange bills. They average over 5 feet long including their bills with a wing span of 5-1/2 to 6 feet and they may weigh more than 16 pounds.
Great White Pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus ) are also referred to as Old World, Eastern Great, African White, Roseate, or European White pelicans; they can be found throughout the eastern and central portions of Europe, in the northern part of India and Pakistan, and in Africa. They.have pale coloring; yellow beaks and pouches and pink legs. In flight, lower wing surfaces are black. Their wing span is about 10-1/2 feet.
Dalmation Pelicans (Pelecanus crispus ), sometimes called Curly-headed Pelicans, are large white pelicans similar to P. onocrotalus. They are found in southern Eurasia, Albania, Greece, the Balkan region of southeastern Europe, Mongolia and China. P. crispus are an endangered species. They have black wingtips, gray feet, and curly tufts of feathers on the top of their heads and necks. In flight, the lower wing surfaces of the wings are pale. They have a wing span up to 11 feet.
Australian Pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus ) are white pelicans similar to P. erythrorhynchos but with more black feathers.
Spot-Billed Pelicans (Pelecanus philippensis ), also known as Gray Pelicans, are endangered due to loss of habitat in southeast Asia.
Pink-Backed Pelicans (Pelecanus rufescens ) breed in sub-Saharan Africa.

Brown Pelicans

Brown pelicans are found along seacoasts, bays, estuaries, marshlands. They make dramatic twisting plunge dives into schools to scoop up fish.
North American Brown Pelicans ( Pelecanus occidentalis ) average over 4 feet long with a wing span of 6-1/2 feet, and they weigh about 8 pounds. Brown pelicans are very social and they nest in colonies. Atlantic birds are smaller than Pacific and they have dark gray or brown pouches.
Peruvian Pelicans (Pelecanus thagus) are very similar to P. occidentalis.

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American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) San Francisco CA	American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) Benicia CA	American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) San Francisco CA	American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos )


Brown Pelicans Pelecanus occidentalis Highly regimental. As a group they will all face the same way when resting.	Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis Pacific birds are larger than Atlantic birds and they have olive to red pouches.	Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis Pacific breeding adults have dark brown hindnecks.	Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis Juveniles are brown with white bellies; Atlantic juveniles have darker heads than Pacific juveniles.


Brown Pelicans Pelecanus occidentalis Tame on beach at Indian Shores FL	Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis Vieques Island PR	Brown Pelicans Pelecanus occidentalis Kiani Mangrove Lagoon PR	Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis Vieques Island PR


Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis Vieques Island PR	Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis Lake Merritt, Oakland CA	Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis Lake Merritt, Oakland CA	Brown Pelican P. occidentalis In mating plumage Pt. Reyes CA


Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis Newborn has dark purple skin with no feathers. At two weeks white down begins to grow.	Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis 6 to 18 month olds have white stomachs, and brown necks and backs. At sexual maturity, they have black stomachs and silver backs.	Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis During summers when not breeding they have white heads and brown necks without changes to their silver backs and black stomachs.	Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis While breeding during winters both the males and females....	Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis .... have yellow heads, white necks, and yellow diamonds at the base of their neck.


Australian Pelicans Pelecanus conspicillatus Reputedly has the largest bill of any bird in the world.	Australian Pelicans Pelecanus conspicillatus In the breeding season the parents build shallow nests on the ground.	Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus The female usually lays 2 white eggs and she and her partner take turns....	Australian Pelicans Pelecanus conspicillatus ....keeping the eggs warm. A month later the chicks hatch.


Australian Pelicans Pelecanus conspicillatus	Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus	Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus


Great White Pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus Breeding adults have pale yellow crests.	Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus Bills are bright orange usually with a fibrous plate on upper mandible.	Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus Largest pelican in the world. Al;so as the Eastern White Pelican.


Pink-Backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) Wingtips are gray to gray-black. Seawater Farms, Eritrea, Africa	Pink-Backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) Mottled, pale gray and white with pink tinge.	Spot-Billed Pelicans (Pelecanus philippensis) Grayish to white, brown to black wingtips. Southeast Asia	Spot-Billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) Grayish to white, brown to black wingtips. Thailand


Dalmation Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) Also called "Curly-Headed Pelican".	Dalmation Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) Azerbaijan	Dalmation Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) Azerbaijan	Dalmation Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) Vienna

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