In the vast lands of North America, Illinois is home to both species of Pelican. The majestic American White Pelican and the elusive Brown Pelican can be spotted in this region.
Throughout the year, one can witness the presence of the American White Pelican in Illinois. However, the Brown Pelican is a rarity, rarely seen gracing the state with its presence.
Pelicans, known for their grandeur and distinctive features such as their massive bills, expandable throat pouches, and sturdy feet, are among the largest and most recognizable avian creatures on Earth. Despite their imposing size, they possess a remarkable lightness facilitated by air pockets within their skeletal structure and skin, aiding them in buoyancy. Their extensive wings grant them the ability to glide gracefully through the air when in flight.
Within the avian realm, there exist a total of eight diverse pelican species, two of which dwell in North America—the American White Pelican and the Brown Pelican.
During the breeding season, pelicans undergo striking transformations. Their facial skin, throats, and bills become adorned with vibrant hues, and some even develop additional appendages on their bills.
These captivating creatures exhibit communal breeding behavior, forming colonies comprised of up to 50,000 individuals. Depending on the species, pelicans may choose either ground or tree nests as their breeding grounds. After approximately 25 days of nurturing within the nest, the young pelicans assemble in crèches consisting of up to a hundred fledglings, while their doting parents single out their own offspring for feeding.
Despite their predatory nature, pelicans do not fall under the category of birds of prey, which exclusively comprises raptors. While their primary diet consists of fish, pelicans display versatility in their culinary preferences, indulging in a variety of prey such as crabs, frogs, snakes, mammals, birds, and insects.
Employing their expansive throat pouches, pelicans adeptly capture fish, draining the water before devouring their aquatic catch. Furthermore, juvenile pelicans partake in direct feeding from their parents’ pouches, ensuring a nourishing meal.
For those seeking to identify the Pelicans that grace the lands of Illinois, this guide draws upon the extensive knowledge gathered from dedicated bird watchers on platforms like Avibase and eBird, providing valuable insights on the presence of these avian wonders.
Pelicans Spotted in Illinois: Two Species Revealed
American White Pelican
In the vast expanse of Illinois, the American White Pelican proudly asserts its year-round presence. Observations from avid bird watchers indicate that this magnificent creature appears in approximately 1% of the summer and winter checklists submitted for the state.
The American White Pelican, a splendid soaring specimen, boasts the second largest average wingspan among all North American avian species.
Outside the breeding season, adult American White Pelicans showcase an immaculate white plumage throughout their bodies, save for their black flight feathers, which become visible during flight or when their wings are outstretched. Their eyes bear a bluish-gray shade, surrounded by yellow facial skin. Pale orange hues adorn their bills, pouches, and feet. In contrast, juvenile American White Pelicans sport light gray feathers, accompanied by darker brown napes.
During the breeding season, adult American White Pelicans undergo a noticeable transformation in coloration. A yellow plate emerges on their upper bills, reminiscent of a horn. While their bodies retain their pristine whiteness, their eyes, bills, legs, and feet assume a vivid orange hue.
Throughout the year, American White Pelicans undergo molting changes, commonly known as the eclipse phase. Spring brings forth a visible yellowish patch on their breast and chest, while the summer adorns their heads with blackish feathers.
- Scientific Name: Pelecanuserythrorhynchos
- Length: 60 – 63 inches (152 – 160 cm)
- Weight: 246.4 ounces (6983 g)
- Wingspan: 96 – 110 inches (244 – 279 cm)
Breeding activities for American White Pelicans commence in remote inland lakes within North America, followed by their migration to the southern Pacific Coast of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and Central America during the winter months. These splendid birds can be observed during their migratory journeys across the western and central states of the U.S.
American White Pelicans favor habitats such as shallow freshwater lakes, wetlands, and the edges of lakes and rivers. During winter, they seek refuge in coastal bays, inlets, and estuaries, utilizing shallow waters for foraging and sandy bars for resting.
Their primary diet comprises fish, which they skillfully capture by swimming on the water’s surface and employing their substantial bills. Pelicans also engage in cooperative foraging, joining forces with fellow birds in a synchronized effort to drive fish towards the shore, facilitating efficient capture.
Opportunistic in nature, American White Pelicans embark on extensive journeys in search of plentiful feeding grounds. They may occasionally indulge in crayfish, amphibians, and salamanders. Additionally, they have been known to snatch fish from the water’s surface, pilfering from other avian species.
In terms of vocalizations, American White Pelicans tend to be silent or emit a few grunts. However, the young ones in large colonies may become noisy, fervently clamoring for sustenance.
Nesting habits of American White Pelicans involve the creation of simple, shallow depressions on the ground. Twigs, sticks, reeds, and various materials are added to fortify the nest’s structure. The female pelican lays one to two eggs, which both parents diligently incubate for approximately thirty-six days. Regrettably, due to the occurrence of siblicide—when one sibling eliminates the other—only one chick per nest typically survives.
Fascinating Fact: The prodigious bill of the American White Pelican possesses the astonishing capacity to hold three gallons of water. When the pelican scoops up fish from the sea, it tilts its bill downward to drain the water, enabling the consumption of the remaining fish stored within its throat sac.
Brown Pelican
While the Brown Pelican remains a rarity or accidental sighting in Illinois, a few fortunate individuals have reported encounters. The most recent documented sightings occurred near Harrisburg Lake in 2020.
Non-breeding adult Brown Pelicans exhibit distinctive characteristics, featuring white heads and necks adorned with pale yellow foreheads. Their lengthy bills display a combination of yellow and orange hues. Grayish-brown feathers drape their bodies, harmonizing with short, black legs and webbed feet. Juveniles boast brown plumage on their heads, necks, backs, and wings, while their bill assumes a bluish-gray shade. The underside of their bodies showcases a light brown shade.
The Brown Pelican consists of five distinct subspecies, two of which partake in breeding activities within the United States. The Pacific Coast variant, known as P.o.californicus, and the Atlantic Coast variant, named P.o.carolinensis.
Distinguishing the Pacific and Atlantic Brown Pelicans becomes more apparent during the breeding season. Both species feature white heads with vibrant yellow foreheads. However, their napes undergo a transformation, shifting from white to dark brown. Atlantic Brown Pelicans possess olive-brown throat pouches, while their Pacific counterparts showcase red skin within their throat pouches.
- Scientific Name: Pelecanus occidentalis
- Length: 48 – 50 inches (122 – 127 cm)
- Weight: 131.2 ounces (3718 g)
- Wingspan: 78 – 84 inches (198 – 213 cm)
Brown Pelicans reside along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America throughout the year, engaging in either breeding and migration or maintaining a resident status. Their range extends to the northern regions of South America.
Shallow water environments serve as the preferred habitats for Brown Pelicans. They thrive in estuaries, coastal marine habitats, and the tranquil islets of mangrove forests. Resting periods are often enjoyed on sandbars, breakwaters, and offshore rocks.
Possessing a distinctive foraging technique, Brown Pelicans display an awe-inspiring diving ability. Plunging into the depths of the ocean, they skillfully capture prey within their expandable throat pouches. Upon resurfacing, water drains from their pouches, enabling immediate consumption of their catch.
Sardines and herring dominate the Brown Pelican’s diet during diving expeditions. When not engaged in dives, they casually swim, seizing prey with their bills. Crustaceans such as prawns, amphibians, eggs, and young birds may also be part of their culinary choices.
As for vocalizations, adult Brown Pelicans tend to remain silent, occasionally emitting grunts. Juveniles, however, vocalize more frequently, using squawks as a means of begging for food.
Nests constructed by Brown Pelicans predominantly occupy ground locations, opting for islands, mangroves, and cliffs as their nesting sites. The female takes charge in building the nest, utilizing reeds, leaves, pebbles, sticks, and packed soil to create a safe haven. Typically, two to four eggs are laid, and both parents engage in incubation duties for approximately one month.
Fascinating Fact: Brown Pelicans have a remarkable incubation technique. They cover their eggs with their webbed feet, ensuring proper warmth and protection. This practice, however, proved detrimental when the pesticide DDT caused eggshell thinning, resulting in the eggs breaking under the weight of their parents’ feet. Conservation efforts were necessary to restore Brown Pelican populations to their former glory.