Large White Bird w/ Black (1 Viewer)

[David314]

Howdy!

Today at Forest Park in St. Louis, MO I saw the following: A large white bird with a Heron like neck and a very, very long slender beak. It also had prominent black markings on the underside of its wings. It was very large, much plumper than a Great White Egret -more like the size of the Great Blue Heron. Can anyone identify this beauty for me? Thank you.

 

[jmepler]

American White Pelican would be the most likely.

Much less likely would be Whooping Crane.

Mike

 

[Rapala]

Sounds like American White Pelican to me. Its primaries and secondaries are black when viewed from below. See here for information and photos to see if it matches up.

 

[Peter C.]

I suspect that it is very likely that the above responses are correct. One thing that might confirm the ID, however, is if you told us what it was doing at the time - flying over, swimming, standing?

 

[David314]

Hello everyone and thanks for the input. I have investigated both of the species which were suggested above and it doesn't appear to be either. It's beak was too slender for the pelican (and lacking a pouch and crown feathers) & I don't recall it having black on its face like the crane -though the underside wing coloration was similar. Also, its long slender beak was completely yellow. It was sitting on the ice and swimming around a bit, stalking prey (like the Great Blue Heron) & doing some grooming with its scissor like beak. The zoo is very near by, and I wonder if this mystery man flew the coop! o:

 

[stevethehydra]

Wood Stork perhaps? Not sure if they get as far north as Missouri though...

 

[jmepler]

After reading the additional information I am convinced that it was an American White Pelican.

The fact that the OP didn't see a pouch is not surprising, especially while the bird was preening. Pelicans also only have the tufted crown during breeding season, February through June.

Everything else fits, "large white bird", "Heron like neck". "very, very long slender beak", "prominent black markings on the underside of its wings", "very large", "much plumper than a Great White Egret", "long slender beak was completely yellow", "swimming around a bit, stalking prey", "grooming with its scissor like beak".

The fact that it was seen swimming seems to rule out every other possibility other than a zoo escape. Even then I can't think of anything that fits the description.

There have been a number of American White Pelicans seen in the St. Louis area recently as well.

Mike

 

[David314]

Thanks so much for the in depth analysis jmepler! After viewing additional images, (and learning that the pouch is sometimes retracted) I feel confident that this was indeed the American White Pelican. How exciting! Thank you to everyone for your patience & sharing your knowledge. :t: