Automatically translated. This page was translated automatically from German and has not been reviewed by our editors.Show original
Birds
Brown pelican
Brown pelican · Pelecanus occidentalis
Brown pelicans impress with daredevil plunge dives, dark plumage and an enormous wingspan along wild coasts.
Fact file
- Size
- Wingspan up to 2.30 m and an average weight of 3 to 5 kg
- Males and females
- Males and females look similar, the female is sometimes slightly smaller
- Sounds
- Usually quiet, chicks beg loudly for food in the nest
- Diet
- Fish, caught in spectacular plunge dives
- Offspring
- Two to three chicks in an elevated nest site, breeding season usually spring to summer
How to identify Brown pelican
The brown pelican stands out thanks to its strikingly contrasting plumage: the body shows a dominant brown, the neck shines a yellowish white in breeding plumage and the chest usually appears dark, almost black. Particularly distinctive is the powerful bill with a large, elastic throat pouch, which is clearly visible both in flight and when diving.
With a wingspan of up to 2.30 metres, the brown pelican glides elegantly just above the water surface. Adult birds weigh around 3 to 5 kilograms. Compared with other pelican species, the brown pelican is easy to distinguish by its more compact proportions and its long, even neck.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
Where Brown pelican live
Discover Brown pelican on your trip.
The app shows you where and when to see wildlife along your route.
