Large and stocky seabird with a long neck and giant bill. Breeding adults have a dark neck and a pale yellow head. Birds from the Atlantic Coast have brown skin on their throat pouch.
Heavy bodied seabird with a giant bill. During the breeding season their heads have a light golden wash. Breeding adults along the Pacific Coast have red skin on their throat pouch.
Typically forages for schooling fish by diving head-first into shallow waters of coastal estuaries or oceans. Occasionally forages from the water's surface when the water is too murky or shallow for diving.
Juveniles look similar to adults, but are brown above with a brown neck and grayish bill.
Does not carry food in its pouch; instead it scoops up fish and releases the water before swallowing them whole.
Parents begin feed nestlings a few hours after hatching until young are capable of flight at around 11–12 weeks old. After the young leave the nest, parents rarely continue feeding them.
Graceful flier often seen flying low over the waves, gathering lift as the waves break.
Scoops fish out of the water using expandable throat pouch. Before swallowing the fish, they drain the water out of the pouch.
Brown Pelicans regularly form large groups year-round. They often preen or loaf on sand bars or open beaches in groups.
Often rests with its head on its shoulder. Nonbreeding birds have a slight yellow wash on their head and a white neck.
Plunges head first into water, scooping up fish with its expandable throat pouch.
Found year-round in estuaries and coastal marine habitats, often in flocks.
Common coastal bird often seen standing on rocks or pilings near shore.
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Brown Pelicans are huge, stocky seabirds. They have thin necks and very long bills with a stretchy throat pouch used for capturing fish. Their wings are very long and broad and are often noticeably bowed when the birds are gliding.
Huge. Slightly smaller than an American White Pelican; much larger than a Herring Gull.
goose-sized or largerOn the Pacific Coast, Brown Pelican adults have red skin on their throats in the breeding season. On the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, Brown Pelicans are slightly smaller and their throat skin is greenish black.
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