In North America, there are two distinct species of Pelican that can be observed, and Tennessee is a location where both can be encountered. These species are the American White Pelican and the Brown Pelican.
During the winter season, one can spot American White Pelicans in Tennessee. However, the occurrence of the Brown Pelican in the state is infrequent and considered rare.
Pelicans are renowned for their immense size and distinctive features, such as their enormous bills, expandable throat pouches, and impressive feet. Despite their substantial size, they possess a lightness facilitated by air pockets in their skeletal structure and skin, aiding their buoyancy. Additionally, their elongated wings enable them to gracefully soar through the air during flight.
Globally, there are a total of eight species of pelicans, and two of these reside in North America—the American White Pelican and Brown Pelicans.
During their breeding period, pelicans undergo remarkable changes in their facial skin, throats, and bills, as these regions acquire brighter hues and some develop additional structures on their bills.
Pelicans exhibit colonial breeding behavior, forming communities of up to 50,000 birds. Depending on the species, they may choose to nest either on the ground or in trees. Approximately 25 days after hatching, the young pelicans congregate in large groups called “creches,” consisting of up to 100 individuals. Astonishingly, the parents possess the ability to recognize and exclusively provide food for their own offspring.
While pelicans engage in the predation of various animals, they do not fall under the classification of birds of prey, which exclusively encompasses raptors. Fish constitute the primary component of a pelican’s diet, although they may also consume crabs, frogs, snakes, mammals, birds, and insects.
To capture fish, pelicans utilize their expandable throat pouches, which enable them to ensnare their prey and drain excess water before ingestion. Furthermore, young pelicans may directly feed from their parents’ pouches.
To facilitate the identification of the pelican species found in Tennessee, this guide utilizes information from avibase and data collected by birdwatchers on ebird. It offers genuine insights into the periods when these avian creatures can be observed.
Two Pelican Species in Tennessee:
American White Pelican
American White Pelicans can be encountered throughout the year in Tennessee, with a higher likelihood during the winter months, spanning from October to March. Birdwatchers have reported sightings of American White Pelicans in approximately 1% of their submitted checklists for the state.
American White Pelicans are majestic birds, distinguished by their soaring flights and possessing the second-largest average wingspan among North American avifauna.
Non-breeding adult American White Pelicans display an entirely white plumage, except for their black flight feathers, which become apparent during flight or when their wings are spread. They possess bluish-gray eyes and yellow facial skin surrounding their eyes. Their bills, throat pouches, and feet exhibit a pale orange coloration. Juvenile American White Pelicans feature light gray feathers with darker brown areas on their napes.
Breeding adult American White Pelicans exhibit distinctive coloration compared to their non-breeding counterparts. They develop a yellow plate on their upper bills, resembling a horn. While their bodies remain predominantly white, their eyes, bills, legs, and feet acquire a brighter orange shade.
American White Pelicans undergo molting changes known as “eclipse.” During spring, a visible yellowish patch emerges on their breasts and chests. In summer, their heads become adorned with blackish feathers.
- 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 secluded inland lakes within North America before embarking on their winter sojourns to the southern Pacific Coast of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and Central America. During migration, they may also be observed in various states across the western and central regions of the United States.
Shallow freshwater lakes, wetlands, and the peripheries of lakes and rivers serve as favored habitats for American White Pelicans. During winter, they can be found in coastal bays, inlets, and estuaries, where they engage in foraging activities within shallow waters and rest on sandbars.
Fish comprise the primary dietary component of American White Pelicans. They employ their impressive bills to swim near the water’s surface and seize their prey. These birds often exhibit cooperative foraging behavior, coordinating their actions to corral fish towards the shore, where they can efficiently scoop them up.
American White Pelicans are opportunistic feeders, adept at locating areas abundant in food resources. They may embark on extensive journeys in search of more favorable feeding grounds. In addition to fish, their diet may include crayfish, amphibians, salamanders, and they have been known to pilfer fish from the water’s surface, snatching meals from other avian species.
When it comes to vocalizations, American White Pelicans tend to be silent, emitting only occasional grunts. However, their young offspring can be quite noisy within large colonies as they vocalize to request food.
American White Pelican nests consist of simple, shallow depressions on the ground. Twigs, sticks, reeds, and other materials are deposited on top of the soil to provide protective layers for the eggs.
The female pelican lays one to two eggs, which both parents diligently incubate for up to thirty-six days. Unfortunately, due to siblicide (when one sibling kills the other), only one chick per nest manages to survive.
Fun Fact: The elongated and expansive bill of the American White Pelican possesses the capacity to hold approximately three gallons of water. When capturing fish, the pelican tilts its bill downward, allowing water to drain out, subsequently facilitating the consumption of the remaining fish within its throat pouch.
Brown Pelican
While Brown Pelicans are considered rare or accidental in Tennessee, a couple of sightings have been recorded, primarily occurring during the summer season. Notably, there were recent observations near the Mississippi River in 2022.
Non-breeding adult Brown Pelicans 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, complemented by short, black legs and webbed feet. Juvenile Brown Pelicans showcase brown plumage on their heads, necks, backs, and wings, while their bills assume a bluish-gray shade. The undersides of juveniles are light brown.
The Brown Pelican encompasses five subspecies, with two of them breeding within the United States. P.o.californicus represents the Pacific Coast variant, while P.o.carolinensis is associated with the Atlantic Coast variant.
Distinguishing characteristics between the Pacific and Atlantic Brown Pelicans become more prominent during the breeding season. Both species possess white heads adorned with brighter yellow foreheads. The nape of their necks transitions from white to dark brown. Atlantic Brown Pelicans possess olive-brown throat pouches, whereas Pacific Brown Pelicans exhibit red skin in this region.
- Pelecanus occidentalis
- Length: 48 – 50 inches (122 – 127 cm)
- Weight: 131.2 ounces (3718 g)
- Wingspan: 78 – 84 inches (198 – 213 cm)
Brown Pelicans breed and migrate or maintain year-round residency along the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts of North America, extending to northern South America.
Brown Pelicans prefer habitats encompassing shallow water environments. They dwell in estuaries and coastal marine settings throughout the year. Resting locations include mangrove islets, sandbars, breakwaters, and offshore rocks.
One notable feature of Brown Pelicans is their exceptional foraging ability. They demonstrate the capability to plunge into the depths of the ocean, capturing prey within their throat pouches. Upon surfacing, water drains from their pouches, enabling immediate ingestion of their catch.
Their primary diet consists of fish, such as sardines and herring. When not engaging in diving behavior, they leisurely swim and seize prey using their bills. Additional food sources may include crustaceans like prawns, amphibians, eggs, and young birds.
As for vocalizations, adult Brown Pelicans tend to remain relatively silent, occasionally emitting grunts. However, juvenile pelicans vocalize more prominently, often squawking to communicate their hunger.
Brown Pelicans construct nests, predominantly on the ground rather than in trees. These nests are typically concealed and protected on islands, within mangroves, or on cliffs. The female takes charge of nest building, utilizing reeds, leaves, pebbles, and sticks, which are packed with soil. The female then lays two to four eggs, jointly incubated by both parents for approximately one month.
Fun Fact: Brown Pelicans engage in a unique incubation practice wherein they cover their eggs with their webbed feet. This behavior proved detrimental to the species in the past when the pesticide DDT resulted in the thinning of eggshells, leading to breakages under the weight of the parents’ feet. It required substantial conservation efforts to restore Brown Pelican populations.