In the realm of North American avifauna, within the borders of Arkansas, one can behold the presence of both species of Pelican. These splendid creatures, known as the American White Pelican and the Brown Pelican, grace the region with their occasional appearances.
The American White Pelican, with its wintry proclivities, blesses Arkansas with its presence during the colder months. On the contrary, the Brown Pelican, though not entirely absent, is an infrequent visitor to this particular locale.
Pelicans, those grand avian specimens, rank among the largest avian creatures to roam the Earth. With their magnificent bills, expansive throat pouches, and sturdy feet, they captivate the gaze of any onlooker. Despite their formidable size, these remarkable beings possess a surprising lightness, facilitated by air-filled pockets within their skeletal framework and integumentary layers. These attributes serve to keep them buoyant as they traverse the waters, while their elongated wings enable them to gracefully glide through the ethereal realms.
Eight distinct species of pelicans grace the global tapestry, and of these, two have made their abode in the realm of North America—the esteemed American White Pelican and the regal Brown Pelican.
During the breeding season, a splendid transformation befalls the pelicans, manifesting as a vibrant palette adorning their facial skin, throats, and bills. Some individuals even develop additional appendages upon their bills, truly a sight to behold.
Pelicans congregate in vast colonies, boasting populations of up to 50,000 avian beings. Depending on the specific species, these colonies may opt for ground-based or arboreal nesting habitats. After approximately 25 days of incubation, the fledglings gather in “creches,” forming groups of up to 100 individuals. Astoundingly, the devoted parents possess an innate ability to recognize their own offspring and provide nourishment exclusively to them.
While pelicans do engage in predatory behavior, they do not fit the traditional definition of birds of prey, a title reserved for the noble raptors. Fish form the primary sustenance for pelicans, although they occasionally partake in feasts of crabs, frogs, serpents, mammals, birds, and insects.
When capturing their piscine prey, pelicans employ their prodigious throat pouches to secure the catch, subsequently draining the surrounding water before swallowing. The fledglings, in their tender years, derive sustenance directly from their parents’ throat pouches.
To aid enthusiasts in their quest to identify the Pelicans found in Arkansas, the following guide draws upon the vast knowledge amassed by avibase and incorporates data supplied by dedicated bird watchers on ebird. Thus, this resource bestows authentic information regarding the temporal occurrence of these marvelous birds.
The environs of Arkansas host a duo of Pelican species, which we shall now expound upon:
American White Pelican
Arkansas stands witness to the year-round presence of the majestic American White Pelican, although its numbers undergo augmentation during the winter months from November to January. The birdwatchers of the state have documented their occurrence in approximately 1% of summer checklists and 5% of winter checklists.
American White Pelicans, soaring through the heavens, rank among the continent’s largest winged creatures, boasting the second most expansive wingspan on average.
The non-breeding adults of the American White Pelican exude an immaculate white plumage, except for the ebony flight feathers, visible only during their aerial exploits or when their wings are outstretched. Their eyes shimmer in a bluish-gray hue, and a delicate yellow hue embellishes the facial skin encircling their eyes. Their bills, pouches, and feet adorn a pale orange shade. Juveniles, in their
youthful splendor, display light gray feathers accentuated by darker brown napes.
Breeding adult American White Pelicans don a distinct array of colors, distinguishing them from their non-breeding counterparts. They sprout a vibrant yellow protuberance akin to a horn on their upper bills. While their bodies retain their pristine whiteness, their eyes, bills, legs, and feet undergo a transition, shimmering with brighter shades of orange.
The American White Pelicans undergo various molting stages, collectively known as “eclipse.” In spring, a conspicuous yellowish patch adorns their breast and chest, while summer sees the emergence of dusky plumage upon their heads.
- Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
- Length: 60 – 63 in (152 – 160 cm)
- Weight: 246.4 oz (6983 g)
- Wingspan: 96 – 110 in (244 – 279 cm)
The American White Pelicans engender their offspring in remote inland lakes across North America. Subsequently, they embark upon their winter sojourns, gracing the southern Pacific Coast of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and Central America. During migration, their presence may be observed in the western and central states of the United States.
Shallow freshwater lakes, wetlands, and the fringes of lakes and rivers serve as favored habitats for the American White Pelicans. As winter envelops the land, they venture towards coastal bays, inlets, and estuaries, where they dabble in the shallows, forage for sustenance, and seek solace on sandbars.
The American White Pelican maintains a predilection for piscivory, employing their surface swimming skills to capture their finned prey with their prodigious bills. Furthermore, they partake in cooperative foraging alongside fellow avian beings, strategically maneuvering schools of fish towards the shore, where an efficient feast awaits them.
Opportunistic in their dining choices, these pelicans will journey great distances in pursuit of bountiful feeding grounds. They may seize the opportunity to savor crustaceans such as crayfish, amphibians, and salamanders. Additionally, they are notorious for usurping fish from the clutches of their avian peers, snatching their prizes from the water’s surface.
When it comes to vocalizations, American White Pelicans tend to maintain a tranquil demeanor, uttering only a few sporadic grunts. However, their juvenile counterparts may produce an uproar within the expansive colonies as they express their fervent desires for nourishment.
The nests of American White Pelicans comprise rudimentary depressions etched into the earth. Twigs, sticks, reeds, and sundry materials serve as a protective layer atop the soil, shielding the precious eggs within.
The diligent female lays one to two eggs, which both parents dutifully incubate for a span of approximately thirty-six days. Regrettably, only one nestling per brood shall emerge triumphant, for the cruel phenomenon of siblicide rears its head, with one sibling succumbing at the hands of its kin.
Fascinating Fact: The elongated and capacious bill of the American White Pelican boasts a remarkable capacity to hold three gallons of water. During piscine forays, the bill tilts downward, allowing water to drain away, leaving behind a piscine prize to be ingested with ease.
Brown Pelican
Within the borders of Arkansas, Brown Pelicans remain a relatively uncommon sight, with a few sporadic sightings documented. Their last recorded appearance in the vicinity occurred near Lake Saracen in 2020.
Non-breeding adult Brown Pelicans present a striking visage, featuring white heads and necks complemented by pale yellow
foreheads. Their impressive bills, displaying a fusion of yellow and orange hues, extend gracefully. Grayish-brown coats envelop their bodies, harmonizing with their short, ebony legs and webbed feet. In their youthful exuberance, juveniles showcase brown heads, necks, backs, and wings, while their bills emanate a bluish-gray aura. Their underbellies shimmer in a delicate shade of light brown.
The Brown Pelican comprises five subspecies, two of which undertake their breeding endeavors within the United States. The Pacific Coast variant, P.o.californicus, and the Atlantic Coast variant, P.o.carolinensis, bear distinctions most apparent during the breeding season. Both exhibit white heads embellished with vibrant yellow foreheads. However, the napes undergo a transformation from white to dark brown. Atlantic Brown Pelicans display olive-brown throat pouches, while their Pacific counterparts boast a crimson hue adorning their pouches.
- Pelecanus occidentalis
- Length: 48 – 50 in (122 – 127 cm)
- Weight: 131.2 oz (3718 g)
- Wingspan: 78 – 84 in (198 – 213 cm)
Brown Pelicans either undertake breeding migrations or maintain residency throughout the year, gracing the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts of North America, extending to the northern reaches of South America.
The Brown Pelican finds solace in the proximity of shallow water environments. They establish year-round habitats in estuaries and coastal marine ecosystems. Furthermore, their presence may be observed on mangrove islets, as well as upon sandbars, breakwaters, and offshore rocks, where they find respite from their aerial endeavors.
A remarkable foraging technique sets the Brown Pelican apart, as they embark upon breathtaking dives into the depths of the ocean, seizing their prey within their expansive throat pouches. Upon resurfacing, water cascades from their pouches, allowing them to promptly consume their catch.
The primary sustenance of Brown Pelicans consists of fish, encompassing species such as sardines and herring. When not engaged in their gravity-defying plunges, they navigate the waters with a leisurely swim, capturing their prey with deft strikes of their bills. Additionally, they exhibit a penchant for crustaceans like prawns, as well as amphibians, eggs, and fledglings of other avian species.
In terms of vocalizations, adult Brown Pelicans generally maintain a dignified silence, occasionally punctuated by soft grunts. However, their juvenile counterparts unleash a cacophony of squawks and cries as they beseech their caretakers for sustenance.
Nests of Brown Pelicans tend to be established upon the ground, rather than lofty arboreal abodes. Concealment and protection are paramount, prompting their selection of islands, mangroves, and cliffs as nesting sites. The female diligently constructs the nest using reeds, leaves, pebbles, sticks, and fortified with a layer of soil. Within this haven, she lays a clutch of two to four eggs, jointly incubated by both parents for approximately one month.
Fascinating Fact: Brown Pelicans employ their webbed feet to cover and safeguard their precious eggs during incubation. However, this endearing practice proved detrimental during a dark era when the pesticide DDT plagued their existence, resulting in the thinning of eggshells. The weight of their parents’ feet precipitated the tragic demise of many offspring. Through concerted conservation efforts, the Brown Pelican population rebounded, restoring hope for the species’ future.