In North America, one can encounter both varieties of Pelican, namely the American White Pelican and the Brown Pelican, in New Mexico. During winter, American White Pelicans are commonly observed in this region, whereas Brown Pelicans are infrequent visitors and seldom spotted.
Pelicans are among the largest avian species worldwide, renowned for their colossal bills, expandable throat pouches, and distinctive feet. Despite their imposing size, they possess a lightweight structure, aided by air pockets in their skeletal framework and skin, enabling them to float effortlessly. Additionally, their elongated wings facilitate soaring during flight.
Globally, there exist eight different pelican species, with two of them inhabiting North America—the American White Pelican and the Brown Pelican.
During the breeding season, pelicans undergo vibrant transformations in their facial skin, throat, and bills, displaying enhanced hues. Furthermore, some pelicans develop supplementary structures on their bills.
Pelicans congregate in colonies comprising up to 50,000 individuals, and depending on the species, they may nest either on the ground or in trees. After approximately 25 days in the nest, the young pelicans gather in crèches with up to 100 individuals, while their parents remarkably recognize and exclusively feed their own offspring.
Although pelicans prey upon various animals, they are not classified as birds of prey, as that designation is reserved solely for raptors. Pelicans primarily consume fish, yet they also partake in a diet consisting of crabs, frogs, snakes, mammals, birds, and insects.
Utilizing their expansive throat pouches, pelicans ensnare fish and expel water before ingestion. Additionally, juvenile pelicans directly feed from their parents’ pouches.
This informative guide aims to assist in identifying the Pelican species sighted in New Mexico, drawing from avibase and incorporating data gathered from avid birdwatchers on ebird to provide accurate information about their sighting patterns.
New Mexico’s 2 Pelican Species:
American White Pelican
Throughout the year, American White Pelicans can be found in New Mexico, with heightened presence during winter, from August to April. Typically, they are observed in central regions of the state, accounting for approximately 1% of the winter checklists submitted by birdwatchers.
American White Pelicans exemplify majestic, soaring birds, boasting the second-largest average wingspan among North American avifauna.
Non-breeding adult American White Pelicans exhibit an entirely white plumage, except for the black flight feathers visible during flight or when their wings are spread. They possess bluish-gray eyes and yellow facial skin encircling their eyes. Their bills, pouches, and feet bear a pale orange hue. Juveniles feature light gray feathers with darker brown napes.
During the breeding season, adult American White Pelicans display distinctive coloration compared to non-breeding individuals. They develop a yellow plate, resembling a horn, on their upper bills. While their bodies remain predominantly white, their eyes, bills, legs, and feet become vividly orange.
American White Pelicans undergo several molting phases, commonly referred to as “eclipse.” In spring, a noticeable yellowish patch emerges on their breasts and chests, followed by the appearance of blackish feathers on their heads during summer.
- Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
- Length: 60 – 63 in (152 – 160 cm)
- Weight: 246.4 oz (6983 g)
- Wingspan: 96 – 110 in (244 – 279 cm)
Breeding among remote inland lakes in North America, American White Pelicans subsequently migrate to the southern Pacific Coast of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and Central America for the winter. During their migration, they can be spotted
in various western and central U.S. states.
American White Pelicans frequent shallow freshwater lakes, wetlands, and the peripheries of lakes and rivers. In winter, they can be found in coastal bays, inlets, and estuaries, where they engage in foraging within shallow waters and rest on sandbars.
The primary diet of American White Pelicans comprises fish. They swim near the water’s surface, employing their massive bills to capture prey. They also engage in group foraging, coordinating their efforts to drive fish toward the shore, facilitating efficient scooping.
Furthermore, American White Pelicans demonstrate opportunistic feeding behaviors, journeying considerable distances in search of optimal feeding grounds. They may consume crayfish, amphibians, salamanders, and even seize fish from the water’s surface, pilfering from other birds.
American White Pelican vocalizations are typically limited to occasional grunts, rendering them predominantly silent. However, the young pelicans tend to become boisterous within large colonies as they vocalize to request food.
The nests of American White Pelicans are simple, shallow depressions formed on the ground. Twigs, sticks, reeds, and other materials are added atop the soil to provide protective coverage for the eggs.
During incubation, both parents jointly tend to one to two eggs for a period of up to thirty-six days. Unfortunately, due to siblicide, where one sibling eliminates the other, only one chick survives in each nest.
Fun Facts: The elongated and capacious bill of the American White Pelican has the capacity to contain three gallons of water. When capturing fish from the sea, the pelican tilts its bill downward, draining the water and allowing it to consume the remaining fish within its throat sac.
Brown Pelican
Brown Pelicans are not frequently encountered in New Mexico, although occasional sightings can occur throughout the year.
Non-breeding adult Brown Pelicans typically exhibit white heads and necks with pale yellow foreheads. Their elongated bills showcase a combination of yellow and orange hues. Their bodies exhibit a grayish-brown coloration, complemented by short, black legs and webbed feet. Juveniles possess brown heads, necks, backs, and wings, while their long bills appear bluish-gray. Their underparts display a light brown shade.
The Brown Pelican comprises five subspecies, with two of them breeding within the United States: P.o.californicus, prevalent along the Pacific Coast, and P.o.carolinensis, found along the Atlantic Coast.
The distinctions between the Pacific and Atlantic Brown Pelicans become more apparent during the breeding season. Both species exhibit white heads with prominently yellow foreheads. The nape of their necks transitions from white to dark brown. Atlantic Brown Pelicans possess olive-brown throat pouches, while Pacific Brown Pelicans feature red skin within 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 breed and migrate or reside year-round along the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts of North America, extending to northern South America.
Brown Pelicans predominantly inhabit shallow water environments, permanently residing in estuaries and coastal marine habitats. They can also be observed on mangrove islets, sandbars, breakwaters, and offshore rocks, where they rest.
Notably, Brown Pelicans exhibit a remarkable foraging ability, distinguished by their adeptness at diving into deep ocean waters to capture prey within their throat pouches. Upon resurfacing, the water drains from their pouches, enabling immediate ingestion of their catch.
Their primary food source consists of
fish, such as sardines and herring. When not diving, they engage in leisurely swimming, seizing prey with their bills. Their diet may also include crustaceans like prawns, amphibians, eggs, and young birds.
Brown Pelican vocalizations are predominantly silent among adults, aside from occasional grunts. However, juveniles emit squawks to solicit food.
Nests of Brown Pelicans are more commonly constructed on the ground, rather than in trees. Islands, mangroves, and cliffs serve as preferred locations, providing concealment and protection. Females build the nests using reeds, leaves, pebbles, sticks, and soil. They lay two to four eggs, which are incubated jointly by both parents for approximately a month.
Fun Fact: Brown Pelicans employ their webbed feet to cover and incubate their eggs. This behavior, unfortunately, posed a threat to the species when the pesticide DDT led to the thinning of eggshells, causing breakages under the weight of the parents’ feet. Multiple conservation efforts were necessary to restore Brown Pelican populations.