The American White Pelican is an iconic and graceful bird, easily identified by its striking orange bill, elongated neck, and snowy white feathers. These birds are one of the eight known species of pelicans, and uniquely, they develop horned bills during the breeding season. Unlike their close relative, the brown pelican, the American white pelican is significantly larger and can often be seen gliding over shallow lakes and marshlands across North America.
Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Pelecaniformes
- Family: Pelecanidae
- Genus: Pelecanus
- Species: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Description
Size:
- Length: 130 to 180 cm (51 to 70 inches)
- Wingspan: 240 to 300 cm (94 to 118 inches)
- Weight: 4.5 to 9 kg (10 to 19 lbs)
Appearance:
As one of North America’s largest birds, the American white pelican features a robust white body, accented by distinctive black feathers along their wings, visible during flight. Their elongated orange bill houses a large gular pouch, essential for catching prey. During breeding season, their bills, feet, and eyes become brighter, shifting from yellow to vivid orange. Both males and females develop light yellowish crests on their heads and small, temporary “horns” atop their bills, which are shed after the breeding season. Outside of this period, the bare skin on their face and legs takes on a muted yellow-orange hue.
Young pelicans start with grayish-brown plumage that transitions to their characteristic white as they mature.
Distribution
The American white pelican is widespread across Canada and the United States, making its home in cooler regions during the breeding season. Significant colonies can be found in places like the islands along the Slave River, as well as throughout Ontario to California. Gunnison Island in Utah’s Great Salt Lake is another prominent nesting site, housing around 10-20% of the population.
In winter, these pelicans migrate south, commonly seen along the Pacific coastline, Gulf of Mexico, and extending as far as Costa Rica and Mexico.
Habitat
During breeding, American white pelicans select isolated islands in freshwater lakes, rivers, and marshes, often more than 50 kilometers (31 miles) from their feeding areas. In the winter, they favor coastal habitats, such as bays, estuaries, and inlets, where they have access to shallow water, ideal for foraging. Inland areas like the Salton Sea in California also serve as wintering grounds.
Diet
American white pelicans primarily consume fish, needing about 1.8 kg (4 lbs) of food daily. Their diet includes species like minnows, trout, carp, and catfish. In addition to fish, they sometimes eat amphibians like larval salamanders and crustaceans such as crayfish.
Behavior
These pelicans are daytime foragers, often working together in groups to herd fish into shallow water for easier capture. In deeper waters, they hunt individually. Known for their kleptoparasitic behavior, they sometimes steal food from other birds.
One of the most notable behaviors is their gliding flight. With wide wingspans, they soar in elegant formations, often in a V-shape. When threatened, they communicate using grunts and raise their heads high to show dominance.
To regulate body temperature, they flap their large gular pouches, which are rich in blood vessels, while incubating parents spread their wings to cool off.
Lifespan
In the wild, the American white pelican can live over 16 years, with the oldest known individual reaching 26.4 years. In captivity, they can live for more than 34 years.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Arriving at breeding grounds in March or April, these pelicans form monogamous pairs, building shallow nests in colonies. Females usually lay two to three eggs, but typically only one chick survives. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs for about a month, using their webbed feet to provide warmth.
Chicks are born featherless but soon develop white down feathers. By 9 to 10 weeks, they start flying, and at 11 weeks, they leave the nest. They continue to be cared for by their parents for a short time before becoming independent.
Predators
On their isolated nesting islands, American white pelicans face minimal threats from land predators. However, coyotes and foxes sometimes prey on adult pelicans, while gulls, ravens, and hawks target their eggs and young. Aerial predators like eagles and owls also pose a risk to juveniles.
Adaptations
- Buoyancy: Special air sacs under their skin help them stay afloat.
- Gular Pouch: Their iconic pouch can hold up to 11 liters (3 gallons) of water, assisting in catching fish.
Conservation Status
Once facing significant population declines due to pesticide use and hunting, American white pelicans have rebounded, thanks to conservation efforts. They are now listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, though they remain vulnerable to habitat loss, poaching, and climate-related issues like flooding. They are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
[toggle title=”Resources” state=”close”]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_white_pelican# https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pelecanus_erythrorhynchos/# https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_White_Pelican/ https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/american-white-pelican https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/american-white-pelican https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/whitepelican.htm https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/pelecanus-erythrorhynchos[/toggle]
