Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican
The Brown Pelican, also called Californian, is a large bird but the smallest of global pelicans. It has a dark grey body, brown chest/belly, brown neck with white head and yellow-white crown. The lower bill has a dark pouch and can have a red lower tip in the breeding season. It is similar to the Peruvian Pelican but significantly smaller. Photos were taken by Alexandra Makhnina in Mexico.
Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican
It is one of three American species of pelican, one of two seen in North America. Unlike the American White, it is a marine species. Its range is from Canada to the Amazon estuary on the Atlantic or to Chile on the Pacific, but most are in the Gulf of Mexico (Atlantic) or California/Mexico/Central America (Pacific).
Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican
Breeding adult Brown Pelicans have the brown neck and ginger crown; juveniles and non-breeding birds have a white neck and crown, the latter sometimes with a yellowish wash.
Brown Pelicans diving
Brown Pelican diving
Brown Pelican diving
The Brown Pelican, together with the Peruvian, are the only two pelicans which fish by diving.
Brown Pelicans high in trees
Brown Pelican in tree
Brown Pelicans in trees
Like other pelicans, it is a gregarious species. Surprisingly, they are also found extremely high up in trees, balancing on thin branches with their webbed feet.
Brown Pelican juvenile
Brown Pelican juvenile
Brown Pelican
Juvenile Brown Pelicans have a greyish-white neck and front, the latter gradually turning to brown.
Brown Pelicans in flight
Brown Pelican with full pouch
Brown Pelican juvenile
More Brown Pelicans photographed by Alexandra Makhnina in Costa Rica.