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Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Audubon Illustration
John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.
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About the Brown Pelican
The brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is a bird of the pelican family, Pelecanidae, one of three species found in the Americas and one of two that feed by diving into water. It is found on the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey to the mouth of the Amazon River, and along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands. The nominate subspecies in its breeding plumage has a white head with a yellowish wash on the crown. The nape and neck are dark maroon–brown. The upper sides of the neck have white lines along the base of the gular pouch, and the lower fore neck has a pale yellowish patch. The male and female are similar, but the female is slightly smaller. The nonbreeding adult has a white head and neck.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Pelecanus occidentalis
- Family
- Pelicans
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
Similar species
Other members of the pelicans family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
Know when the Brown Pelican turns up near you
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Optics
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