North American field guide
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Identification
Field notes
122 cm (48") Wings 213 (84") Locally common on both coasts, rare inland. State bird for Louisiana. Large bird with grayish brown body and large bill. Hindneck is variable in color; chestnut when breeding otherwise white. White or yellow on head. Makes spectacular dives into sea from air to catch fish.
In flight, flaps then glides. May fly in flocks in long lines.
This bold bird may beg for food on fishing piers.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Brown Pelican - Plunge Dive Foraging Technique And Swallowing Jumping Fish Trapped Inside Pouch.wmv
Credit: ospreyquestWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Brown Pelican
2 rulesRule 1 11 criteria · confidence 6
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BELLY ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the NECK ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and thick · Flattened · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Long · Very long · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Duck or Goose-like
- What type of environment was the bird seen in?
- Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff · Open ocean; beyond sight of land · Only or mostly in flight over saltwater
Rule 2 11 criteria · confidence 1
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BELLY ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the NECK ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and thick · Flattened · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Long · Very long · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Duck or Goose-like
- What type of environment was the bird seen in?
- Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline · Open body of freshwater · Only or mostly in flight over freshwater