Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
33.2261, -117.401
Field Notes
Description:
Winter plumage adult Brown Pelican with very slight indication of the red throat patch found in California breeding adult Brown Pelicans. Breeding Brown Pelican has dark chestnut steak down the back of the neck. This bird was truly beautiful!
Habitat:
Common along the coast of California in the winter, breed around the coasts of Baja California and southern California. This beautiful bird was familiar with handouts from fishermen along the Oceanside, California pier, but still went fishing on its own from time to time. Amazing to watch them cruise along the shore and suddenly dive straight down into a wave to catch dinner.
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