# Brown Pelican (*Pelecanus occidentalis*) The Brown Pelican is a large bird with a long bill and a stretchy throat pouch. It loves to dive from high up to catch fish in the ocean. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 176 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** American Brown Pelican, California Brown Pelican ![Brown Pelican](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426184/objects/5943.jpg) ## Appearance The Brown Pelican is a large coastal bird with a dark brown body and a white head and neck, often with a yellow wash on its crown. It has a distinctive long bill with a large expandable gular pouch used for fishing. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Pelecaniformes - **Family:** Pelecanidae - **Genus:** Pelecanus ## Interesting facts - Baby pelicans are born naked, blind, and totally helpless! - Brown Pelicans are excellent flyers, often gliding for miles without flapping! - Its amazing throat pouch can stretch to hold three times more fish than its belly! - Their giant bill has a hook at the tip, perfect for gripping slippery fish! ## Special abilities - **Pouch Power:** Brown Pelican has a giant throat pouch that helps them scoop up fish like a net during spectacular dives. - **Dive Bomb Hunter:** Brown Pelican can plunge from high above the water because of its strong body, helping it catch fish. - **Feather Shield:** Brown Pelican has specialized oils that waterproof its feathers, helping it stay dry even after deep dives. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 106-137 cm - **Wingspan:** 203-228 cm - **Weight:** 2.7-5.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-30 years - **Speed:** 48 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 28-30 days - **Migration Distance:** 3000 km ## Diet & Feeding A skillful fisher, this bird eats mostly small fish by spectacular plunge dives into the water. - **Primary Foods:** menhaden, anchovies, herring, mullet, sardines - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Atlantic Menhaden (*Brevoortia tyrannus*) — A primary food source for pelicans. - **Hunts:** Pacific Sardine (*Sardinops sagax*) — Often targeted in large schools. - **Hunts:** [Black Rat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-rat) (*Rattus rattus*) — Preys on pelican eggs and chicks. - **Depends on:** [Herring Gull](https://www.snappit.app/explore/herring-gull) (*Larus argentatus*) — Often steal fish from a pelican's pouch. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch Brown Pelicans from a safe distance and never disturb them while they are fishing or resting. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Brown Pelican? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Brown Pelican? 106-137 cm ### What is Brown Pelican's wingspan? 203-228 cm ### How much does Brown Pelican weigh? 2.7-5.5 kg ### How long does Brown Pelican live? 10-30 years ### How fast can Brown Pelican move? 48 km/h ### What does Brown Pelican eat? A skillful fisher, this bird eats mostly small fish by spectacular plunge dives into the water. ### Where is Brown Pelican usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bolsa-chica-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Brunswick Old Town Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brunswick-old-town-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Cabrillo National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabrillo-national-monument) — California, US · National Park - [Crystal Cove Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-cove-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Fort Monroe National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-monroe-national-monument) — Virginia, US · National Park - [Forts Baker, Barry, and Cronkhite](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/forts-baker-barry-and-cronkhite) — California, US · Historic District [View all places to see Brown Pelican](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/brown-pelican) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Brown Pelican: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-pelican)