Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

The brown pelican is the smallest of the eight species of pelican. It is strictly coastal and can be found along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the Americas from Southern Canada to Chile and the mouth of the Amazon river. It is the only pelican that dives for fish from the air.

Identification

Adults

Adult male and female brown pelicans are similar in appearance. They are a large, dark colored waterbird, with a long grayish bill with extensible pouch. The head is white with a pale yellow wash on the crown. They have a large heavy body, with short legs, webbed feet, long broad wings and short tail. The eyes are pale yellow.

Immature

Immature birds have brownish-grey necks and white underparts.

Gallery

Brown pelican

North Seymour, Galápagos (2010)

Related Page Hierarchy

Species

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)

Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates, sea squirts)

Class: Aves (birds)

Order: Pelecaniformes (pelicans)

Family: Pelecanidae (pelicans)

Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

White pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)