Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Also known as: Pelican
About This Species
A large, unmistakable coastal bird recognized by its huge bill and pouch, seen flying in loose lines low over the waves or plunge-diving head-first into schools of fish from a height. It nests colonially on coastal islands and mangrove keys, and is visible year-round along piers, jetties, and beaches across the southern and Pacific coasts of the Americas, where it often rests companionably near fishing docks. Watching a group feed on a bait ball, with repeated dives in quick succession, is one of the more dramatic seabird spectacles available from shore.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- A recovered species after past pesticide-driven declines, it now tolerates close range around piers and docks, but nesting colonies on islands are a different matter and warrant considerably more distance and caution, particularly during the breeding season.
- It is protected under migratory bird treaty legislation in the United States, and colony disturbance, causing adults to flush and leave eggs or chicks exposed to sun or predators, is a recognized threat to breeding success, so boats and people should stay well clear of nesting islands rather than approach for a closer photo.
- Feeding birds around docks are used to people and require no special precaution beyond not feeding them deliberately, which alters natural foraging behavior.
LCAvesPelecaniformesPelecanidae
Seasonal Activity
2,811,627 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Family
- Pelecanidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.