Facts About the Brown Pelican

Central America is an amazing region, flanked by the Pacific and the Atlantic. Its shores has miles of coastal wildlife, which like many other species, are often endangered due to changes in the region. One of the most famous inhabitants is the pelican bird, one of the largest in the region.

Scientifically named Pelecanus occidentalis, their presence signals not just natural beauty but also the health of marine ecosystems. These pelicans are vital indicators of coastal wellbeing, offering clues about the region’s environmental state. As an organization dedicated to conserving the wildlife corridors where these majestic birds live, educating the public about these vital species is part of our life’s work. 

Let’s explore a few curious insights into fascinating birds.

Brown Pelican Facts

Let me tell you some facts about pelicans. Did you know that there are eight pelican species? The brown pelican is the smaller one of all of them, and it’s still a pretty big bird! Still, it compensates with other qualities, such an amazing appearance. While most species are pale, this one is darker, giving it a “dirty” tone, as well as being the exception in the family.

Another fun fact about them is that pelicans choose a new mate every year. During the breeding season, males will try to win a mate, courting the female brown pelican with some “romantic” displays on the nest. The competition is very fierce, and it can be really interesting to watch!

Once the pair made a breeding bond, both the male and female shared their duties, building the nest for the eggs. As for how many they lay, females usually have from two to four eggs a year. 

These sociable birds make them really loved, and they’re ok being around people. You can see them around the coast of the Pacific and the Atlantic, often flying low around piers and boats, meeting humans. It’s known that there are some examples of pelicans tamed by humans, winning their trust by offering them fish!

The Pelecanus occidentalis’ affections can be won through its appetite. Like other members of its kind, it sports a throat pouch disproportionate to its frame. An essential tool for catching meals, this pouch can hold up to 2.42 gallons which contrasts sharply with its stomach’s smaller 0.84-gallon capacity. 

This size disparity might just have been the muse for poet Dixon Lanier Merritt’s famed limerick, believed to have been inspired by the quirky feeding habits of the pelican species:

“A gorgeous bird is the pelican, Whose beak will hold more than his bellican!“

Ideal Habitat for Brown Pelicans

Brown pelican habitats comprise the Atlantic coast, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific coast. Outside of the breeding season, the Pacific population’s range extends all the way up to Washington and southern British Columbia in the north, and down to northern Peru in the south. Year-round resident populations of Pacific brown pelicans can be spotted from southern California and Mexico to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

Nesting Sites

These marine birds often establish colonies off the mainland, usually on rocky islands close to shore. The reason the brown pelicans choose these islands as their nesting sites is they are better protected from predators on these mostly uninhabited islands. 

Brown pelicans build their nests anywhere from level ground to rocky outcrops and sea-facing cliffs depending on the local geography. When nesting on the mainland, these pelicans have been observed to build nests in trees and shrubs to deter predators and nest invaders.

Fishing Spots

When it comes to their favorite places to fish, most of the brown pelican birds spend their time swimming and flying, allowing them to switch and stay close to the shore. This is vital to avoid open waters that can be very deep for them. Excursions to hunt their prey usually take four or five miles, so they can stay really close to the shore, as well as to their colony.

What Do Brown Pelicans Eat?

Like its pelican relatives, this member of the Pelecanidae family primarily subsists on fish, making it a classic piscivore. Yet, this particular species employs techniques distinct from its cousins. 

Diet

When it comes to their preferred cuisine, brown pelicans gravitate towards schooling fish. Depending on where they reside, their main courses might consist of anchovies, sardines, or mackerel. Menhaden, herring, and mullet, showcasing the variety of their aquatic diet, which is also really tasty for them (they love it!).

Like all other pelican species, the brown pelican is piscivorous, mainly surviving on a diet of fish. However, unlike its fellow pelicans, brown pelicans employ some unique tactics that set them apart from other species. In some cases, they will even eat crustaceans and prawns. There are also freak incidents of brown pelicans eating the young or eggs of other bird species with whom they share their range and even cannibalizing nestlings in their own colony!

Hunting Methods

As we said already, the brown pelican can be different to its kin. This one has a very different diving technique to seize its prey, which is very interesting to see! It can go from 70 feet above the water, scanning the place. After they see a prey, they’ll swim really close, catching it. A wonderful sight to behold!

But that’s not all that you have to see. The impact these birds do, splashing against the surface, actually stuns the fish, allowing the bird to catch it with ease, just to flight away right away. The only pelican that has a similar hunting method to the brown one is the Peruvian pelican, another really wonderful creature.

This hunting style means that pelicans must frequently rely on the efforts of other marine predators, such as sharks, dolphins, and predatory fish. These animals usually pursue schools of fish from the depths toward the surface, creating an opportunity for the brown pelican to employ its signature tactics.

On occasions where the water is either too shallow or too murky for the brown pelicans to successfully plunge-dive, they revert to methods used by other pelicans, sitting on the water’s surface and scooping fish up in their large bills. 

How To Identify Brown Pelicans

Did you know that there are some tips to easily identify a brown pelican? Along with the Peruvian counterpart, both of them are way different to the white ones, which are the ones you have probably heard or seen. Its name comes from its colored coat, setting them apart by a unique color that makes it really beautiful!

Newly hatched nestlings have downy feathers and are born blind. As they reach the juvenile stage, they develop a coat of entirely brown feathers. Adults tend to have gray-brown bodies, yellow heads, and white necks. During the breeding season, the neck feathers change their colors to chestnut brown while bright red patches develop on the throat pouch and bill.

While it’s the smallest pelican that exists, it’s still large! It’s one of the biggest marine bird habitats, and that can make it a menace for fishes and smaller prey. With a size of 45-54 inches tall and a wingspan of 90 inches, this wonderful creature can glide long distances, providing a very beautiful view to anyone sightseeing.

Brown Pelican Male vs Female

Do you wanna know about the main differences in brown pelicans’ appearance? It’s actually rather easy to note! Juveniles, non-breeding adults, and breeding adults have some differences that make it simple to note. While sexual dimorphism isn’t really a strong thing for these birds, males are still slightly larger than females; so that’s about it. Therefore, it’s difficult to point out brown pelicans’ male vs female characteristics that allow observers to guess the sex of the bird.

Threats To Brown Pelicans

Until 2009, brown pelicans were on the endangered list. Focused conservation efforts, like banning harmful pesticides and creating protected areas, resulted in a turnaround in their dwindling populations. Today, they are listed as “Least Concern” by IUCN. Still, pelicans are at risk from human activity. They get tangled in fishing lines and drown in oil spills. Overfishing can also deprive them of their natural food sources.You can help brown pelican conservation efforts by contributing to organizations like Paso Pacifico, an organization that preserves wildlife corridors within the pelicans’ range. Our efforts provide these magnificent birds a safe habitat to rear their future generations.