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Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
16.3329, -88.1515
Field Notes
Description:
The brown pelican is about four feet in length. It has a brown and gray body and a white head with a light brown crown. Its neck is dark brown during breeding season. Young pelicans are all brown. The brown pelican has a very long gray bill with a large pouch of skin. Its pouch holds two or three times more than its stomach can hold -- close to three gallons of fish and water! Males and females look the same.
Habitat:
Top of dead palm on Ranguana Caye
Notes:
They feed by plunge-diving from high up, using the force of impact to stun small fish before scooping them up. They are fairly common today—an excellent example of a species’ recovery from pesticide pollution that once placed them at the brink of extinction.
Reference Links:
Brown Pelican
Species ID Suggestions
Spotted for Missions
Photographed
PublishedOctober 28, 2013
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