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. Santa Cruz, California
Adult Brown Pelicans are gray-brown birds with yellow heads and white necks. In breeding plumage, the back and sides of the neck turn a rich, dark reddish-brown. Immatures are gray-brown with pale whitish belly and breast. Shoreline, California
They feed by plunge-diving from high up, using the force of impact to stun small fish before scooping them up in their large bills. Moss Landing, California
Moss Landing, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Don Edwards NWR, California
Don Edwards NWR, California
Don Edwards NWR, California
Don Edwards NWR, California
Don Edwards NWR, California
Don Edwards NWR, California
Channel Islands National Park, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Channel Islands National Park, California
Channel Islands National Park, California
Channel Islands National Park, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Moss Landing, California
Moss Landing, California
Moss Landing, California
Moss Landing, California
Shoreline, California
Monterey, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Santa Cruz, California
Don Edwards NWR, California
Don Edwards NWR, California
Don Edwards NWR, California
Don Edwards NWR, California
Don Edwards NWR, California
Don Edwards NWR, California
Don Edwards NWR, California
Don Edwards NWR, California
Breeding on lakes throughout the northern Great Plains and mountain West, the American White Pelican is one of the largest birds in North America. It winters along the coasts, but breeds only inland. Shoreline, California
Baylands, California
Don Edwards, NWR, California
Don Edwards, NWR, California
Baylands, California
Don Edwards, NWR, California
Don Edwards, NWR, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Don Edwards, NWR, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California
Shoreline, California