American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchosOrder: PELECANIFORMESFamily: Pelicans (Pelecanidae)
American White Pelican Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Specialized
  • Eye color: Gray iris
  • Head Pattern: Plain, Crested or plumed
  • Crown color: White
  • Forehead color: White
  • Nape Color: White
  • Throat color: White
  • Cere color:
American White Pelican Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 152-160 cm (60-63 in)
  • Weight: 6982 g (246.4 oz)
  • Size: Size 5. Very Large (32 - 72 in)
  • Color: White
  • Underparts: White
  • Upperparts: White
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
American White Pelican Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Strong, slow deep wing beats.
  • Wingspan Range: 243-279 cm (96-110 in)
  • Wing Shape: Broad-Wings, Very-Long-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Squared Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: White
  • Under Tail: White
  • Leg color: Red, Orange
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Family Pelican (Pelecanidae)_blue
Species Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Length60 - 63 Inches
Wingspan103 Inches

American White Pelican

American White Pelican: Huge, white seabird, enormous outstretched wings show black primaries, outer secondaries in flight. Bill, legs are bright orange, upper bill develops a fibrous keel during breeding season. Slow, deep wing beats. Soars high on thermals. Flies in straight line or V formation.

● Song: "croak, croak, croak"

● Foraging & Feeding: American White Pelican: Feeds mostly on fish while swimming, snatching prey with large bill; groups may concentrate prey by herding. An adult pelican can consume up to 4 lbs of food each day. Unlike the Brown Pelican, this bird does not plunge dive for food.

● Breeding & nesting: American White Pelican: Nests in colonies, laying one or two white eggs on a low mound built from mud and debris. Nesting colonies are usually located on marshy islands, but occasionally on rocky islands in desert lakes. Incubation ranges from 29 to 36 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: American White Pelican: Wood Stork has a black tail, a dark, featherless head and neck, and long legs that trail beyond tail in flight. Brown Pelican has gray-brown upperparts, dark wings, and a darker bill. It also plunge dives for fish while flying.

Flight Pattern

Strong, slow deep wing beats.
American White Pelican Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: American White Pelican: Breeds from British Columbia and Mackenzie south to northern California, Utah, and Manitoba; also breeds along the Gulf Coast. Spends winters in the southern U.S. south to Panama. Preferred habitats include shallow lakes and coastal lagoons.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
PopulationFairly common to common
MigrationMigratory
Weight246.4 Ounces