Moonring Nature Photography :: Brown Pelican - Species Pelecanus occidentalis

The brown pelican is about four feet in length. It has a brown and gray body and a white head with a light brown crown. Its neck is dark brown during breeding season. Young pelicans are all brown. The brown pelican has a very long gray bill with a large pouch of skin. Its pouch holds two or three times more than the its stomach can hold -- close to three gallons of fish and water! Males and females look the same. The Brown Pelican is on the U.S. Endangered Species List. It is endangered in all of its range except for Atlantic coast, Florida and Alabama.

The brown pelican can be found on the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Coasts. On the Atlantic Coast, it can be found from North Carolina south to Venezuela. On the Pacific Coast, its range stretches from Southern California to Chile. After nesting season, it can be found as far north as British Columbia and Nova Scotia.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

General Information

Habitat and Range




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	Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) General Information The brown pelican is about four feet in length. It has a brown and gray body and a white head with a light brown crown. Its neck is dark brown during breeding season. Young pelicans are all brown. The brown pelican has a very long gray bill with a large pouch of skin. Its pouch holds two or three times more than the its stomach can hold -- close to three gallons of fish and water! Males and females look the same. The Brown Pelican is on the U.S. Endangered Species List. It is endangered in all of its range except for Atlantic coast, Florida and Alabama. Habitat and Range The brown pelican can be found on the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Coasts. On the Atlantic Coast, it can be found from North Carolina south to Venezuela. On the Pacific Coast, its range stretches from Southern California to Chile. After nesting season, it can be found as far north as British Columbia and Nova Scotia.