Brown Pelican
At a Glance
An unmistakable bird of coastal waters. Groups of Brown Pelicans fly low over the waves in single file, flapping and gliding in unison. Their feeding behavior is spectacular, as they plunge headlong into the water in pursuit of fish. The current abundance of this species in the United States represents a success story for conservationists, who succeeded in halting the use of DDT and other persistent pesticides here; as recently as the early 1970s, the Brown Pelican was seriously endangered.
Description
45-54″ (1.1-1.4 m). W. 7’6 (2.3 m). Very large, with distinctive shape. Adult gray-brown with pale head (back of neck turns chestnut in breeding season). Juvenile all brown at first, changing gradually to adult plumage.
Size
About the size of a Heron
Color
Brown, Gray, White, Yellow
Wing Shape
Broad, Fingered, Long, Tapered
Tail Shape
Short
