The brown pelican is a large seabird known for its distinctive throat pouch used for catching fish. Here are some key facts that make the brown pelican special:
Unique Adaptations for Fishing
The brown pelican has a number of unique physical adaptations that help itexcel at hunting fish:
- Large bill with a stretchy throat pouch – The bill can hold up to 3 gallons of water and stretch to catch large amounts of fish.
- Keen eyesight – Their eyesight is up to 6 times better than humans, allowing them to spot fish under water.
- Water-repellent feathers – Their feathers repel water and help keep them dry and warm in cold ocean waters.
- Built-in “fish net” – The underside of their bill has a large pouch of skin that acts like a built-in fish net to scoop up fish.
- Hinged upper bill – Their upper bill is hinged, allowing it to flex and adjust as they catch fish.
- Short legs – Their short legs allow them to dive from heights up to 60 feet to catch fish.
These specialized features make the brown pelican an expert fisher, allowing it to dive and catch fish more effectively than most seabirds.
Impressive Fishing Technique
Brown pelicans have a highly effective fishing technique known as plunge diving:
- Locate fish – Brown pelicans fly and float on the ocean surface until they spot a school of fish.
- Plunge dive – They dive headfirst, often from heights of 20-60 feet, creating an impressive splash when they hit the water.
- Catch fish – As they plunge under water, they open their bill pouch and scoop up fish.
- Drain water – After surfacing, they tilt their bill down to drain out the water while keeping the fish trapped inside.
- Swallow fish – They then swallow the fish whole, using their flexible throat pouch.
Plunge diving allows brown pelicans to catch more fish at one time compared to surface feeding. They can pop in and out of the water quickly to avoid predators.
Large Size
Brown pelicans are one of the largest seabirds found in North America:
| Measurement | Size |
|---|---|
| Length | 50-65 inches |
| Wingspan | 6-7 feet |
| Weight | 5-8 pounds |
Their large size allows them to capture more fish and defend fishing territories from other birds trying to steal their catch.
Far-Ranging Habitat
Unlike many seabird species that breed in dense colonies, brown pelicans have a very broad habitat range:
- Found on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America
- Range extends from Canada down to Chile and the Galapagos Islands
- Nest on secluded islands and coastal mangrove forests
- Forage in estuaries, bays, harbors and offshore waters
Their ability to thrive in diverse marine and coastal habitats from North to South America is quite impressive compared to related pelican species with more restricted ranges.
Breeding Behavior
Brown pelicans display some interesting breeding behaviors:
- Form monogamous pair bonds that can last multiple seasons
- Perform elaborate courtship displays like head swaying and bowing to potential mates
- Males collect sticks and other material, then females use it to build the nest
- Lay clutches of 2-3 eggs that hatch after 30 days of incubation
- Both parents feed regurgitated fish to chicks until they fledge at 9-10 weeks
Their bonding behaviors and shared duties in raising young help brown pelican families successfully reproduce and raise chicks each year.
Impressive Recovery from Endangerment
In the 1960s-70s, brown pelican populations were decimated by environmental contaminants like DDT:
- Pesticide poisoning caused reproductive failure
- Nesting populations declined up to 90% in some areas
- The species was listed as Endangered in 1970
After DDT was banned, brown pelicans made a dramatic comeback across their range. They were delisted from the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2009 and continue to rebound today.
Important Role in Ecosystems
As seabirds that feed on fish, brown pelicans play an important ecological role:
- Help control populations of certain fish species
- Prey on weaker or injured fish, improving the gene pool
- Guano fertilizes aquatic plants and reef ecosystems
- Serve as indicator species of marine environmental threats
Brown pelicans are an iconic and essential part of healthy coastal and marine habitats throughout the Americas.
Conclusion
From their unique fishing adaptations to impressive recovery from endangerment, the brown pelican is a special seabird and conservation success story. Their huge size, wide habitat range, plunge diving technique and shared breeding behaviors make them stand out from other pelican species. Brown pelicans remain an important part of coastal and marine ecosystems across North, Central and South America.
