The Brown Pelican
What Does The Brown Pelican Look Like?

Brown pelicans are huge birds.  They can grow up to 42-54   inches.  They  are  large  bodied,  short  legged  and a  bill  longer  than  their  own  head!  Brown pelicans are dark and bulky.  The  head  is  white  with   a  yellow  crown,  yellow eyes,  and  a  grayish  bill.  The belly is a blackish-brown color, with legs and feet pure black.  The tail color looks very much like the belly, but is gray and dark brown.
What Does The Brown Pelican Eat?

The brown pelican loves to eat sea food.Most of the time they eat small fish.  Some examples are anchovies, sardines, and shrimp.  Their favorite type of herring is menhaden.  On occasion they do eat squid, but that is the biggest sea food they go for.
What is the Brown Pelican’s Habitat?

Brown pelicans love to live by water. Most of the time these birds are found by lakes, rivers, and seacoasts, basically where ever fish are.
What Countries Can You Find the Brown Pelican?

When you go to the subtropical and tropical shores of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts you may be able to find the brown pelican.
Are Brown Pelicans Endangered?

In North America brown pelicans are endangered.
What is Some Interesting Facts I Might Want to Know?

• The brown pelican’s pouch holds more than the stomach.
• The male brown pelican finds a nesting sight and then performs a display to attract female brown pelicans.
• Brown pelicans are as graceful in the air as they are clumsy on land.
• The brown pelicans’ scientific name is Pelecanus Occidentalis.

What Fast Facts are there?

Class: Aves (Birds)
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Pelecanidae
Genus: Pelecanus
Species: 7
Bibliography:
“Pelecanus Occidentalis,” www.animaldiversity.ummy.umich.edu, The Regents of the University of Michigan, 1995-2008

“Pelican,” www.animals.nationalgeographic.com, National Geographic Society, 1996-2011

“Pelican,” www.school.eb.com, Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2010

“Birds: Pelican,” www.sandiegozoo.org, Zoological