Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Brown Pelicans can be seen along most of the U.S. coastline, including the California coastal areas where these photographs were taken. We almost lost them due to pesticides used from about 1950-1970, causing such a disasterous decline that in 1970 they were placed on the Endangered Species list. The pesticide DDT was banned, and other harmful pesticides had their uses greatly restricted. Fortunately the Brown Pelican populations rebounded, and in 2009 they were removed from the Endangered Species list. Brown Pelicans are long-lived for birds, with a few living for more than 40 years. The western Brown Pelicans develop beautiful red coloration of their pouch during the courting season (upper left photograph). They are graceful fliers (upper right photograph), often seen flying in a line or V-formation as part of a flock of 6-12. They can be found resting on piers, like the birds shown here in their post-breeding plumage of yellow head and white neck (lower left). They also have a third annual plumage, the pre-breeding plumage with yellow head and brown neck (not shown). (Click on images to see enlarged versions.)