Pelecanus occidentalis

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(Pelecanus occidentalis)

• Alena Butler
• Michelle Floyd
• Kristy Wales
• period 1
• 1/27/99

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Habitat

• Coasts southern U.S. to northern Brazil to
  Chile. It lives in salt bays. Mostly over shallow
  waters along immediate coast, especially on
  sheltered bays.

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Appearance
It has a ponderous dark color. Adults have white
about the neck and head. Younger birds have dark
heads with whitish under parts. Its size,shape
,and flight indicate its habit of plunging
bill-first into water.
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Feeding

• CARNIVOR
• The brown pelican eats almost entirely fish, such
  as menhaden, smelt, and anchovies, also
  crustaceans. Carp, chubs, perch, catfish, some
  salamanders and crayfish.

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Reproduction

• The white pelican breeds from March through June,
  and usually lays two eggs. Both males and females
  incubate the eggs. Young pelicans are fed by
  their parents. The young put their bills into the
  throats of the parents to eat partly digested
  fish.

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Birth Size Adult Size

• Large white bird, 50 to 70 inches long, with a
  wing span of 8 to 9.5 feet, weighing 10 to 17
  pounds. It has black wing tips and an
  orange-colored bill. Their feet are webbed to aid
  in swimming. The skin pouch is suspended from the
  lower half of the pelicans straight bill.

Birth
Adult
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Life Expectancy

• One captive American white pelican lived to 34
  years of age.
  

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Endangered

• American White Pelican (estimated continental
  population 1995)125,000 nests (continental)
  representing 250,000 adult birds plus estimated
  150,000 pre-breeding 1 and 2-year chicks
• Suggests total 1995 population of 400,000 fledged
  birds in continental range.
  

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Bibliography

• Source Rappole, J.H. and G.W. Blacklock. 1994.
  Birds of Texas A Field Guide. Texas AM
  University Press, College Station, Texas.
  
• "White Pelican An Endangered Species - Web Pages
  by Ray Rasmussen"
  
• 1997 Encyclopedia Britannica.online
• Photograph from "Rocky Mountain Wildlife" David
  Dahms