Brown Pelican

About

The Brown Pelican is a large, distinctive seabird known for its impressive plunge-diving fishing technique and its large gular pouch. It is the smallest of the pelican species and the only one that feeds by diving from the air. Its presence is a quintessential sight along coastal areas of the Americas.

Size & lifespan

Length

106-137 cm (42-54 in)

Wingspan

1.83-2.5 m (6-8.2 ft)

Weight

2.7-5.0 kg (6-11 lbs)

Lifespan

15-25 years in the wild, with records up to 31 years

Diet

Carnivore (primarily fish)

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Adults have a dark gray-brown body, a white neck, and a pale yellow wash on the head. The back of the neck is dark chestnut-brown during breeding season. Non-breeding adults have a white neck and head with a yellowish wash. Juveniles are duller, with a grayish-brown head and neck and a pale belly.

Beak shape

Long, flattened, and straight bill with a large, distensible gular pouch underneath. The bill is grayish-pink to yellowish in non-breeding adults, becoming brighter yellow and reddish-orange at the tip during breeding.

Eye color

Pale yellow to white

Leg color

Dark gray to blackish

Distinguishing features

Large size, distinctive plunge-diving behavior, prominent gular pouch, and the unique head and neck coloration patterns that vary with age and season.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles are uniformly dull grayish-brown on the head, neck, and upperparts, with a pale, often whitish, belly. They lack the distinct white neck and yellow head of adults.

Seasonal changes

During the breeding season, adults develop a rich chestnut-brown hindneck and a brighter yellow wash on the crown. The gular pouch and bill also become more intensely colored with yellow, orange, and reddish hues. Outside of breeding, the hindneck is white, and the head is mostly white with a pale yellow wash.

Sexual dimorphism

Males are generally slightly larger than females, but plumage is identical.

How to identify

1. 1

   Plunge-diving behavior

   The most distinctive identification feature. No other pelican species or large coastal bird regularly dives headfirst into the water from significant heights to catch fish.

2. 2

   Overall coloration

   Dark brown body, contrasting with a white neck and yellowish head (adults). Juveniles are uniformly dull brown.

3. 3

   Bill and Pouch

   The very long bill with a large, expandable gular pouch is unmistakable. Note the color changes with age and season.

4. 4

   Flight profile

   Flies with slow, deep wingbeats, often in V-formations or single lines, frequently gliding low over the water. The long neck is typically tucked back in an S-curve during flight, unlike herons which fly with their necks extended.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Coastal marine environments, estuaries, lagoons, and large bays.

Geographic range

Coastal areas of North, Central, and South America. From Nova Scotia (rarely) and Maryland south along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the U.S., throughout the Caribbean, and south to the Amazon River in Brazil. On the Pacific Coast, from British Columbia (rarely) and Washington south through California, Mexico, Central America, and down to Chile.

Elevation range

Primarily sea level, rarely found inland.

Preferred environments

Shallow coastal waters, sandy beaches, rocky shores, mangrove swamps, and offshore islands for nesting and roosting. They require calm, fish-rich waters for feeding.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal, active during daylight hours for feeding and roosting.

Feeding habits

Feeds almost exclusively on fish, primarily schooling fish like menhaden, anchovies, and sardines. They are renowned for their spectacular plunge-diving technique, where they dive headfirst from heights of 6-18 meters (20-60 feet) to catch fish in their gular pouch. They typically surface, drain the water from their pouch, and then swallow the fish whole. They may also steal fish from other birds or fishermen.

Social behavior

Highly social birds, typically found in flocks. They roost and nest colonially, sometimes in very large numbers. They are generally tolerant of other pelicans and seabirds.

Flight pattern

Strong, graceful flight with slow, powerful wingbeats, often interspersed with long glides. They frequently fly in V-formations or single lines, often just above the water's surface, utilizing ground effect to conserve energy.

Migration pattern

Northern populations (e.g., those breeding in the Carolinas) are migratory, moving south for the winter. Southern populations are largely resident or undertake short-distance dispersal movements. Juveniles often disperse widely after fledging.

Territoriality

Generally not territorial outside of the immediate nest site during breeding season. Feeding grounds are shared.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

Varies geographically: December-May in Florida, March-August in the Carolinas, March-July in California, and year-round in tropical regions.

Nesting habits

Colonial nesters, often on isolated islands, coastal dunes, or in mangroves. Nests are typically large, bulky structures made of sticks, reeds, and other vegetation, built on the ground or in low trees/shrubs. Both parents participate in nest building.

Clutch size

2-3 eggs, typically.

Egg description

1-3 (occasionally 4) dull white, chalky eggs, often stained brown from nest material.

Incubation period

28-30 days, incubated by both parents.

Fledging period

Chicks fledge (become capable of flight) at about 75-80 days old, but remain dependent on parents for several weeks thereafter.

Parental care

Both parents share incubation duties and feed the young by regurgitating partially digested fish into their gular pouch, from which the chicks feed directly.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Watch for feeding activity. Their spectacular plunge-diving is a key indicator of their presence. Look for birds circling high above the water before diving.
2. Scan coastal structures. They frequently perch on man-made structures like piers, docks, and channel markers, offering excellent viewing opportunities.
3. Observe flocks. Brown Pelicans are social; where you see one, you're likely to see more, often flying in characteristic lines or V-formations.

Similar species

Quick facts

Primary Food Source:

Fish (e.g., menhaden, anchovies, sardines)

Feeding Method:

Plunge-diving

Social Structure:

Colonial

Distinguishing Feature:

Large gular pouch and plunge-diving

Conservation Success Story:

Recovered from DDT-induced population declines

Fun facts

• The Brown Pelican was once severely endangered due to the effects of DDT, which caused eggshell thinning. Following the ban of DDT in the U.S. in 1972, its populations made a remarkable recovery, leading to its removal from the endangered species list in 2009.
• When a Brown Pelican plunge-dives, it hits the water at speeds up to 40 mph (64 km/h). To protect itself, it has air sacs under its skin that act like bubble wrap, cushioning the impact.
• Despite its large pouch, the Brown Pelican does not store fish in it for transport. The pouch is used as a net to catch fish, which are then swallowed immediately.
• Young pelicans feed by reaching into their parent's pouch to retrieve regurgitated fish, a behavior that can look quite aggressive as they jostle for food.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Pelecaniformes

Family

Pelecanidae

Genus

Pelecanus

Species

Pelecanus occidentalis

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