Pelicans are large water birds known for their distinctive large beaks and throat pouches used for catching fish. They are most commonly found in white, grey, brown, and black plumage. But can pelicans ever be pink? Let’s take a closer look at pelican biology, coloration, and exceptions to see if pink pelicans are a real possibility.
Pelican Species and Coloration
There are 8 living species of pelicans found around the world:
- American White Pelican – White with black flight feathers
- Brown Pelican – Dark brown body, pale yellow head
- Great White Pelican – White with black flight feathers
- Pink-backed Pelican – Gray body, pinkish back and undertail
- Spot-billed Pelican – White with a grayish pink bill
- Australian Pelican – White with a faint pink tinge
- Peruvian Pelican – White with dark plumage on wings
- Dalmatian Pelican – White with gray and black markings
As you can see from the names and descriptions, pelican species are typically white, gray, brown, or black in coloration. The only species with faint pinkish hues are the Pink-backed Pelican and Australian Pelican.
Pink-backed Pelican
The Pink-backed Pelican gets its name from the pale pinkish-orange hue on its mantle, upper back, and upper tail feathers. However, the body plumage is still a grayish white. So while this species shows a pinkish coloring, it is still not fully pink.
Australian Pelican
The Australian Pelican has an overall bright white plumage. However, during breeding season, its plumage can take on a very faint pinkish tinge, most noticeable on the chest and bill. But again, they do not become vividly pink.
Pelican Feather Pigments
The main pigments found in pelican feathers are:
- Melanin – Browns, blacks, and grays
- Carotenoids – Yellows, oranges, reds
- Porphyrins – Pinkish hues
The melanin and carotenoids account for the blacks, grays, browns, and yellowish colors seen in pelican plumage. The pinkish hues come from porphyrins. However, pelicans only have small amounts of porphyrins in their feathers, which is why any pink coloring is very faint.
Can Pelicans be Dyed Pink?
While natural pink pelicans are extremely rare, it is possible for pelicans to be artificially dyed bright pink. This occasionally happens when pelicans land in polluted waters containing chemical dyes.
In 2002, a bright pink pelican dubbed Pepto the Pink Pelican showed up in Santa Cruz, California after swimming in waters containing red dye. The dye stained its feathers pink but did not harm the bird. The color faded over the next few years as the bird molted its feathers.
There have been a few other cases of pink dyed pelicans over the years. However, it is not a natural coloring and requires the bird to swim in bright chemical dyes to achieve the look.
Genetic Conditions that Produce Pink Pelicans
There are some rare genetic conditions that could potentially cause a pelican to have pink plumage:
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic mutation that prevents melanin production, resulting in white or very pale plumage. Albino birds lack the brown and black melanin pigments that would normally be deposited in their feathers. Without melanin, the underlying pink skin tone shows through, sometimes giving the appearance of pinkish feathers. Cases of albino pelicans are extremely rare, but it is possible.
Leucism
Leucism is another genetic condition that causes reduced melanin pigmentation. Unlike albinism, leucistic birds retain some melanin in their eyes and skin, so are not pure white. They have patchy plumage in muted pale tones that could potentially appear pinkish.
Erythrism
Erythrism is the opposite of albinism, causing an overproduction of red and pink pigments. It has been documented in some bird species, turning their normally green and blue feathers reddish-pink. Cases in pelicans would be highly unusual, but can’t be ruled out as a possibility.
Could Pelicans Evolve to be Pink in the Future?
Evolution by natural selection generally favors traits that help an organism survive and reproduce in its environment. It is hard to see how pink plumage would give pelicans an evolutionary advantage. If anything, pink would make them more visible to predators.
However, there are some scenarios where pink pelicans could potentially evolve:
- If pink feathers gave an advantage in attracting mates, helping pink birds reproduce more
- If preying on pink fish, having pink feathers could provide camouflage during foraging
- If a founder population of pelicans colonized an isolated island where pink coloring was beneficial
Realistically though, pink pelicans are highly unlikely to evolve naturally. Pelicans already have effective survival strategies and mate attraction displays that don’t rely on being pink.
Conclusion
In summary, vividly pink pelicans do not occur naturally in the wild. The closest examples are the faint pinkish hues seen on some body parts of the Pink-backed and Australian Pelicans. Truly pink pelicans would require artificial dyeing, very rare genetic mutations, or highly unlikely and specialized evolutionary pressures.
Pelicans have evolved bright bills, throat pouches, displays, and synchronized flock feeding behaviors to survive and attract mates, not pink plumage. Pelicans come in many shades of white, gray, brown, and black. But pink pelicans remain firmly in the realm of imagination and pop culture. Their iconic coastal image remains complete without the need for pink feathers.
