Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis)

Two species of pelicans occur in NC: Brown Pelican and American White Pelican. Brown Pelicans are common along the immediate coast and breed in a few locations, especially near Wilmington. American White Pelicans are fairly rare migrants or wanderers in NC and are not reported every year.

	Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis) Dare Co., NC 8 Nov 2012
	Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis) Dare Co., NC 8 Nov 2012
	Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis) Dare Co., NC 8 Nov 2012

Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis)
Collier Co., FL
12 Feb 2014

Adults have creamy heads.

	Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis) Collier Co., FL 14 Feb 2014 Young birds have brown heads.
	Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis) Collier Co., FL 14 Feb 2014

	Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis) Collier Co., FL 1 Jan 2009
	Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis) Collier Co., FL 1 Jan 2009
	Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis) Collier Co., FL 1 Jan 2009 Pelicans feed by plunge-diving after fish.

Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis)
Collier Co., FL
2 Jan 2004

Note the immature (foreground) has a brown head, while the adult (background) has a creamy to white head.

Tigertail Beach County Park on Marco Island in Collier Co., FL
2 Jan 2004

Hand-held Digiscoped

Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis)
Barefoot Beach Preserve, Collier Co., FL
12 Feb 2015

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Created on ... January 25, 2004 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com