In North Carolina, you can come across both species of Pelican that inhabit North America. These include the American White Pelican and the Brown Pelican, with the former being a winter visitor to the state.
Pelicans, known for their massive bills, expandable throat pouches, and sturdy feet, stand as one of the largest and most easily recognizable avian creatures. Despite their imposing size, they possess a lightness facilitated by air pockets within their framework and skin, allowing them to effortlessly float and soar through the air using their lengthy wings.
Across the globe, there exist a total of eight distinct Pelican species, two of which reside in North America: the American White Pelican and the Brown Pelican.
During the breeding season, Pelicans undergo remarkable transformations. Their facial skin, throats, and bills adopt vibrant hues, while some individuals develop additional appendages on their beaks.
Pelicans have a gregarious nature, forming colonies comprising up to 50,000 birds. The nesting habits of these creatures can either involve ground-nesting or tree-nesting, depending on the species. After spending approximately 25 days in the nest, the young Pelicans congregate in groups called “creches,” with each creche consisting of around 100 juveniles. Astonishingly, the parents possess the remarkable ability to identify their own offspring and exclusively provide sustenance to them.
Although Pelicans partake in predation, they do not fall into the category of birds of prey, which typically includes raptors. Their diet primarily consists of fish, but they also consume crustaceans, frogs, snakes, small mammals, other birds, and insects.
To capture fish, Pelicans employ their expansive throat pouches, which they use to snatch their prey and subsequently drain the water before swallowing it. Additionally, young Pelicans directly feed from their parents’ pouches.
To aid in identifying the various types of Pelicans encountered in North Carolina, this guide relies on information from bird watchers on ebird and avibase, providing authentic data about the sightings of these birds.
Two Pelican Species Found in North Carolina:
Brown Pelican
Brown Pelicans permanently reside in North Carolina, predominantly observed in the eastern region and along the coastal areas. Bird watchers have reported their presence in approximately 6% of submitted checklists for both summer and winter seasons.
Adult Brown Pelicans in their non-breeding phase typically exhibit white heads and necks, accompanied by pale yellow foreheads. Their long bills possess a combination of yellow and orange hues. Their bodies display a grayish-brown coloration, while their legs are short and black, complemented by webbed feet. Juveniles, on the other hand, possess brown heads, necks, backs, and wings, with bluish-gray bills, while their undersides are light brown.
Within the Brown Pelican species, five subspecies exist, two of which breed within the United States. The Pacific Coast variant is known as P.o.californicus, while the Atlantic Coast variant is referred to as P.o.carolinensis.
During the breeding season, the distinctions between Pacific and Atlantic Brown Pelicans become more evident. Both species develop white heads with more vibrant yellow foreheads. The napes of their necks transition from white to dark brown. Additionally, Atlantic Brown Pelicans feature olive-brown throat pouches, whereas Pacific Brown Pelicans possess red skin in their pouch areas.
- 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 either breed, migrate, or remain residents year-round along the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts of North America, extending down to northern South America.
Brown Pelicans thrive in environments with shallow water, such as estuaries and coastal marine habitats. Resting periods may find them on mangrove islets, sandbars, breakwaters, and offshore rocks.
A distinguishing characteristic of Brown Pelicans is their exceptional foraging technique. They can plunge into the depths of the ocean to seize their prey in their throat pouches. Upon resurfacing, the water drains from their pouches, enabling them to promptly consume their catch.
Their primary diet consists of fish, including sardines and herring. When not diving, they leisurely swim, capturing prey with their bills. They may also consume crustaceans like crabs, amphibians, eggs, and young birds.
Brown Pelican calls: Adults tend to remain silent, occasionally emitting grunts, while juveniles often squawk to solicit food.
Brown Pelicans predominantly construct nests on the ground rather than in trees. Islands, mangroves, and cliffs serve as concealed and protected locations for these nests. Female Pelicans construct nests using reeds, leaves, pebbles, sticks, and soil. Each female lays two to four eggs, which both parents incubate for approximately one month.
Fun Fact: Brown Pelicans utilize their webbed feet to cover and incubate their eggs. This behavior, however, posed a threat to their species when the pesticide DDT resulted in thinning eggshells, leading to breakage under the weight of their parents’ feet. Substantial conservation efforts were required to restore the population of Brown Pelicans.
American White Pelican
American White Pelicans primarily grace North Carolina during winter, from October to mid-March, although a few individuals may be sighted throughout the year. Winter checklists from bird watchers indicate their presence in approximately 1% of submissions.
These majestic birds, with their impressive wingspans, rank among the largest avian creatures in North America.
Non-breeding adult American White Pelicans exhibit a white plumage throughout their bodies, accentuated by black flight feathers visible during flight or when their wings are spread. They possess bluish-gray eyes and yellow facial skin surrounding their eyes. Their bills, pouches, and feet present a pale orange coloration. Juveniles, in contrast, showcase light gray feathers with darker brown napes.
Breeding adult American White Pelicans display distinctive differences in coloration compared to their non-breeding counterparts. They develop a yellow plate resembling a horn on their upper bills. While their bodies retain their all-white appearance, their eyes, bills, legs, and feet transition into brighter shades of orange.
American White Pelicans undergo several molting changes known as the eclipse stage. In spring, a visible yellowish patch emerges on their breast and chest. During summer, their heads acquire blackish feathers.
- Scientific Name: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
- Length: 60 – 63 inches (152 – 160 cm)
- Weight: 246.4 ounces (6983 g)
- Wingspan: 96 – 110 inches (244 – 279 cm)
American White Pelicans breed in remote inland lakes across North America before migrating to the southern Pacific Coast of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and Central America for the winter. During migration, they can also be observed in various states across western and central regions of the US.
These Pelicans tend to inhabit shallow freshwater lakes, wetlands, and the edges of lakes and rivers. In winter, they venture to coastal bays, inlets, and estuaries, where they forage in shallow water and find respite on sandbars.
American White Pelicans predominantly feed on fish, employing their massive bills to capture prey from the water’s surface. They often engage in cooperative foraging with other birds, strategically herding fish towards the shoreline to facilitate efficient scooping.
They are opportunistic feeders, capable of traveling long distances in search of plentiful feeding grounds. Additionally, they may consume crayfish, amphibians, salamanders, and have been observed pilfering fish from the water’s surface, snatching meals from fellow birds.
American White Pelican calls: These birds typically remain silent, emitting only occasional grunts. However, the young ones in large colonies can be quite vocal, clamoring for food.
Nests of the American White Pelican are simple, shallow depressions formed on the ground. Twigs, sticks, reeds, and other materials are added atop the soil to provide protection for the eggs.
The female Pelican then lays one to two eggs, which both parents incubate for up to thirty-six days. Unfortunately, due to siblicide, only one chick survives in each nest, as one sibling eliminates the other.
Fun Fact: The bill of an American White Pelican possesses a remarkable capacity to hold three gallons of water. By tilting their bills downward after scooping up fish, they drain the water and consume the remaining fish from their throat sac.