In Virginia, you can spot both types of Pelicans native to North America. These remarkable birds, the Brown Pelican and the American White Pelican, can be observed throughout the year, although the American White Pelicans are not frequently seen in Virginia.
Pelicans are among the largest avian species on the planet, easily recognized by their colossal bills, expandable throat pouches, and sturdy feet. Despite their size, they possess a surprising lightness, aided by air-filled pockets in their bones and skin, allowing them to effortlessly float on water. Their elongated wings facilitate graceful soaring during flight.
The world is home to 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 striking transformations. Their facial skin, throats, and bills become adorned with vibrant colors, and some even develop additional structures on their bills.
Pelicans breed in colonies consisting of up to an astounding 50,000 birds. Depending on the species, they may choose either ground or tree nests. After approximately 25 days of nesting, the young pelicans assemble in groups called “creches,” comprising up to 100 juveniles. Astonishingly, the parents can identify their own offspring and provide nourishment exclusively to them.
While pelicans are known to prey on various animals, they are not classified as birds of prey, as that designation is reserved for raptors. Fish constitute the primary component of their diet, although they also consume crabs, frogs, snakes, mammals, birds, and insects.
Their expansive throat pouches serve as effective tools for catching fish, enabling them to drain excess water before swallowing their prey. Young pelicans even feed directly from their parents’ pouches.
For accurate information regarding the pelicans found in Virginia, this guide relies on avibase records and data compiled from bird enthusiasts on ebird, ensuring the identification of specific pelican species and their corresponding spotting times.
Virginia’s Pelicans: 2 Distinct Species
Brown Pelican
The Brown Pelican, a resident of Virginia year-round, primarily frequents the state’s eastern regions, particularly along the coast. Birdwatchers’ observations indicate that Brown Pelicans feature in approximately 2% of submitted checklists during both summer and winter seasons.
Adult Brown Pelicans without breeding plumage typically exhibit white heads and necks, accompanied by pale yellow foreheads. Their elongated bills display a combination of yellow and orange hues. Their bodies possess a grayish-brown hue, while their legs are short and black, complemented by webbed feet. Juvenile Brown Pelicans boast brown heads, necks, backs, and wings, with bluish-gray bills and a light brown underside.
Among the Brown Pelican species, five subspecies exist, two of which breed within the United States. The Pacific Coast variant, known as P.o.californicus, and the Atlantic Coast variant, identified as P.o.carolinensis.
During the breeding season, the distinctions between Pacific and Atlantic Brown Pelicans become more apparent. Both species exhibit white heads with vivid yellow foreheads, but their nape color shifts from white to dark brown. Atlantic Brown Pelicans feature olive-brown throat pouches, whereas Pacific Brown Pelicans possess red skin in that area.
- 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 remain year-round along the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts of North America, extending to northern South America.
Brown Pelicans predominantly inhabit shallow water environments, favoring estuaries, coastal marine habitats, mangrove islets, as well as sandbars, breakwaters, and offshore rocks for resting purposes.
These pelicans possess a remarkable foraging technique that distinguishes them. They are capable of diving into deep ocean waters to secure their prey within their throat pouches. Upon resurfacing, they allow the water to drain from their pouches, enabling them to swiftly swallow their catch.
Their diet primarily consists of fish such as sardines and herring. When not diving, they casually swim and seize prey using their bills. Additionally, they may consume crustaceans, amphibians, eggs, and young birds.
Brown Pelican calls: Adult Brown Pelicans are typically silent, emitting occasional grunts. However, juvenile pelicans tend to squawk when begging for food.
Nesting habits of Brown Pelicans typically involve ground-based nests, rather than tree nests. Islands, mangroves, and cliffs often serve as concealed and protected locations. Constructed by the female, the nests consist of reeds, leaves, pebbles, and sticks packed with soil. Each female lays two to four eggs, which are jointly incubated by both parents for approximately one month.
Fun Fact: Brown Pelicans practice incubation by covering their eggs using their webbed feet. This behavior became problematic for the species due to the adverse effects of the pesticide DDT, which resulted in eggshell thinning and subsequent breakage under the weight of the parents’ feet. Numerous conservation efforts were necessary to restore the Brown Pelican population.
American White Pelican
While American White Pelicans are not commonly sighted in Virginia, they can still be found along the coast throughout the year.
American White Pelicans are impressive birds, known for their large size and majestic soaring capabilities, boasting the second-largest average wingspan among North American avifauna.
Non-breeding adult American White Pelicans exhibit a pure white plumage, except for black flight feathers that become visible during flight or when the wings are spread. They possess bluish-gray eyes and yellow facial skin encircling their eyes. Their bills, pouches, and feet exhibit a pale orange hue. Juveniles feature light gray feathers with darker brown napes.
During the breeding season, adult American White Pelicans undergo a notable transformation in appearance. They develop a yellow horn-like structure on their upper bills, while their eyes, bills, legs, and feet become a brighter shade of orange. However, their bodies retain the all-white coloring. Seasonal molting changes bring forth a yellowish patch on the breast and chest in spring, along with blackish feathers on their heads during the summer.
- Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
- Length: 60 – 63 in (152 – 160 cm)
- Weight: 246.4 oz (6983 g)
- Wingspan: 96 – 110 in (244 – 279 cm)
American White Pelicans breed in secluded inland lakes across North America, later migrating to the southern Pacific Coast of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and Central America for the winter season. During migration, they may also be spotted in various western and central U.S. states.
These pelicans can be found in shallow freshwater lakes, wetlands, and along the edges of lakes and rivers. In winter, they venture to coastal bays, inlets, and estuaries, where they forage in shallow waters and rest on sandbars.
The primary food source for American White Pelicans is fish. They swim near the water’s surface, employing their substantial bills to capture prey. They also engage in cooperative foraging with other birds, employing strategic and coordinated efforts to corral fish towards the shore, facilitating efficient scooping.
American White Pelicans demonstrate opportunistic feeding behavior, adapting their locations according to food availability. They may undertake long-distance journeys in search of optimal feeding grounds and are known to pilfer fish from other birds on the water’s surface. Additionally, they consume crayfish, amphibians, and salamanders.
American White Pelican calls: These birds are generally silent, with occasional grunts. However, their young can be quite vocal, especially when begging for food within large colonies.
Nests of American White Pelicans consist of simple, shallow depressions on the ground. Twigs, sticks, reeds, and other materials are added atop the soil to provide protection for the eggs.
During the incubation period, which lasts up to thirty-six days, both parents jointly incubate one to two eggs. Sadly, due to siblicide, only one chick survives in each nest, as one sibling kills the other.
Fun Fact: The American White Pelican possesses a remarkably elongated and spacious bill capable of holding up to three gallons of water. When hunting fish, they tilt their bills downward, allowing water to drain out, thus facilitating the consumption of the remaining fish within their throat sacs.