BROWN PELICAN

1366                  BROWN PELICAN              Pelecanus occidentalis

USA             13

The brown pelican is a bird of the pelican family, Pelecanidae, one of three species found in the Americas and one of two that feed by diving into water. It is found on the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey to the mouth of the Amazon River, and along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands. The nominate subspecies in its breeding plumage has a white head with a yellowish wash on the crown. 

The brown pelican mainly feeds on fish, but occasionally eats amphibians, crustaceans, and the eggs and nestlings of birds. It nests in colonies in secluded areas, often on islands, vegetated land among sand dunes, thickets of shrubs and trees, and mangroves.

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN

 

1365                  AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN                     Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

USA              12

The American white pelican is a large aquatic soaring bird from the order Pelecaniformes. It breeds in interior North America, moving south and to the coasts, as far as Costa Rica, in winter.

SPOT-BILLED PELICAN

March 2017

1086                     SPOT-BILLED PELICAN                     Pelicanus philippensis

SRI LANKA                  91

Found in tanks, lakes, lagoons and marshlands. 140 cm. Rather common breeding resident in dry lowlands, and introduced breeding population in and around Colombo (in wet zone).

PINK-BACKED PELICAN

445           PINK-BACKED PELICAN             Pelecanus rufescens

South Africa            (109)

Ranges across Africa, southern Arabia, southern India and possibly Madagascar. 125-155 cm, wingspan 2.15-2.9 m. Found in many aquatic habitats, but prefers quiet backwaters with shallow water, avoiding steep, vegetated lake banks; prefers freshwater lakes swamps, large slow-flowing rivers and seasonal pools, but also frequents seasonal floodplains. 

AUSTRALIAN PELICAN

Australian Pelican, photographed on NSW south coast

11.   AUSTRALIAN PELICAN    Pelecanus conspicillatus

Australia    (11)

The Pelican is found all over Australia, usually around waterways. May be fresh or sea water. Nomadic. Pelicans are 1.5-1.9 m, wingspan 2.4-2.6 m.