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Difference between revisions of "American White Pelican" - BirdForum Opus

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(Supplemental plumage & flight photos added. Attempt to disguise some of the copied text)
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[[Image:American_White_Pelican.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Leslie|Leslie}}<br/>Photo taken: Westlake Village, [[California]], USA.]]
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[[Image:American_White_Pelican.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Coming into breeding plumage<br />Photo by {{user|Leslie|Leslie}}<br/>Westlake Village, [[California]], [[USA]], January 2004]]
 
;[[:Category:Pelecanus|Pelecanus]] erythrorhynchos
 
;[[:Category:Pelecanus|Pelecanus]] erythrorhynchos
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==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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55-70" (1.4-1.8 m). W. 8' (2.4 m). A huge white bird with a long flat bill and black wing tips. In breeding season, has short yellowish crest on back of head and horny plate on upper mandible. Young birds duskier than adults. <sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>
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55-70" (1.4-1.8 m). W. 8' (2.4 m)
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*A huge white bird
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*Long flat bill
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*Black wing tips.<br />
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'''Breeding''': has short yellowish crest on back of head and horny plate on upper mandible.<br />
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At the end of the breeding season they undergo a few changes to the alternate plumage appearance. The "horn" often seen on the upper mandible is lost, and many birds show short gray feathers on the crown and nape, which is described as '''Supplemental plumage'''.<br />
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'''Young''' birds duskier than adults.  
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[[Image:PELI PREEN EM 0256.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Supplemental Plumage <br />Photo by {{user|blubird|blubird}}<br />Las Gallinas, San Rafael, [[California]], July 2008]]
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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Breeds from [[British Columbia]] and Mackenzie south to northern [[California]], [[Utah]], and [[Manitoba]]; also along [[Texas]] Gulf Coast. Winters from central [[California]], Gulf Coast, and [[Florida]] south to [[Panama]].  <sup>[[#References|1]]</sup> Annual vagrant to most states in the northeast and along the east coast.
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Breeds from [[British Columbia]] and Mackenzie south to northern [[California]], [[Utah]], and [[Manitoba]]; also along [[Texas]] Gulf Coast. Winters from central [[California]], Gulf Coast, and [[Florida]] south to [[Panama]].  <br />
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Annual '''vagrant''' to most states in the northeast and along the east coast.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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Monotypic.
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Monotypic.<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>
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==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Shallow lakes and coastal lagoons. <sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>
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Shallow lakes, coastal lagoons, brackish ponds and marshes.
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[[Image:Blue Skies2.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|kmdipaolo|kmdipaolo}}<br />West Alton, [[Missouri]], April 2008]]
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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American White Pelicans are gregarious birds, often associated with [[Double-crested Cormorant]]s. A flock of migrating American White Pelicans is a majestic sight--a long line of ponderous birds, flapping and coasting. Each bird seems to take its cue from the one in front of it, beginning to flap and starting a glide when its predecessor does. These birds ride rising air currents to great heights, where they soar slowly and gracefully in circles. These birds are more buoyant than [[Brown Pelican]]s and do not dive for their food. They cooperate to surround fish in shallow water, scooping them into their pouches. They take in both water and fish, and then hold their bills vertically to drain out the water before swallowing the food. Because of pesticides, human disturbance, and the draining of wetlands, this species is in decline. The number of active colonies has dropped sharply in recent decades.  <sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>
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====Diet====
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They  work cooperatively in small groups, herding fish into shallow water and then scooping them up in their gigantic 3-gallon pouches.
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'''Nesting''': 1-6 whitish eggs on a low mound of earth and debris on a marshy island; occasionally on rocky islands in desert lakes. Nests in colonies. <sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>
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====Breeding====
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1-6 whitish eggs on a low mound of earth and debris on a marshy island; occasionally on rocky islands in desert lakes. Nests in colonies. <br />
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The plate-like growth(s) on the upper mandible are shed after the eggs are laid.
 
====Vocalisation====
 
====Vocalisation====
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Usually silent; grunts or croaks on nesting grounds. <sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>
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They are mostly silent but will make croaking noises on the breeding grounds.
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==References==
 
==References==
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#[http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=BD0174 enature]
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#{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}# enature
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{{ref}}
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==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Pelecanus+erythrorhynchos}}  
 
{{GSearch|Pelecanus+erythrorhynchos}}  
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Pelecanus]]
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Pelecanus]]

Revision as of 19:29, 16 June 2009

Coming into breeding plumage
Photo by Leslie
Westlake Village, California, USA, January 2004
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Identification

55-70" (1.4-1.8 m). W. 8' (2.4 m)

  • A huge white bird
  • Long flat bill
  • Black wing tips.

Breeding: has short yellowish crest on back of head and horny plate on upper mandible.
At the end of the breeding season they undergo a few changes to the alternate plumage appearance. The "horn" often seen on the upper mandible is lost, and many birds show short gray feathers on the crown and nape, which is described as Supplemental plumage.
Young birds duskier than adults.

Supplemental Plumage
Photo by blubird
Las Gallinas, San Rafael, California, July 2008

Distribution

Breeds from British Columbia and Mackenzie south to northern California, Utah, and Manitoba; also along Texas Gulf Coast. Winters from central California, Gulf Coast, and Florida south to Panama.
Annual vagrant to most states in the northeast and along the east coast.

Taxonomy

Monotypic.[1]

Habitat

Shallow lakes, coastal lagoons, brackish ponds and marshes.

Photo by kmdipaolo
West Alton, Missouri, April 2008

Behaviour

Diet

They work cooperatively in small groups, herding fish into shallow water and then scooping them up in their gigantic 3-gallon pouches.

Breeding

1-6 whitish eggs on a low mound of earth and debris on a marshy island; occasionally on rocky islands in desert lakes. Nests in colonies.
The plate-like growth(s) on the upper mandible are shed after the eggs are laid.

Vocalisation

They are mostly silent but will make croaking noises on the breeding grounds.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. enature

Recommended Citation

External Links

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