The large black and white bird commonly seen in Louisiana is the American White Pelican. The American White Pelican is one of the largest birds in North America, known for its huge bill and throat pouch used for catching fish. These large waterbirds breed in colonies across inland lakes over a wide stretch of North America. Louisiana provides excellent habitat for American White Pelicans with its many lakes, rivers, and coastal wetlands. Thousands of these birds winter along the warm Gulf Coast waters and inland lakes of Louisiana every year.
Physical Description
The American White Pelican is an unmistakable bird with its bright white plumage and massive orange bill. Adult pelicans have short black feathers on the tops of their wings. Their large throat pouch can hold up to 3 gallons of water. These large birds measure 50–70 inches in length, have a wingspan of 8.5–9.5 feet, and weigh 10–20 pounds. The male and female birds look alike. Their short legs and webbed feet are well suited to life in the water. During breeding season the birds develop bright orange and pink facial skin, but it fades to yellow during the rest of the year. Immature pelicans are grayish brown in color for the first few years.
Range and Habitat
American White Pelicans breed from inland lakes in central California and Nevada, central Oregon and Washington, and southern Alberta east to southern Minnesota and northwestern Indiana. Some breeding populations are migratory while others remain year-round residents. In winter, large numbers of pelicans congregate along the warm coastal waters of California and Mexico as well as the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas. Many pelicans also winter on lakes across the southern United States from California to Florida.
The pelicans favor shallow lakes with islands for nesting and open water for feeding. Coastal estuaries, lagoons, rivers, and reservoirs also provide excellent habitat. While primarily found in freshwater habitat, American White Pelicans do forage in saltwater and brackish wetlands along the coasts. The availability of food, space for nesting colonies, and lack of human disturbance make certain areas more suitable for these large colonial waterbirds.
Diet and Feeding
Fish make up the majority of the American White Pelican’s diet including carp, catfish, perch, goldfish, minnows, suckers, and shad. The large bill and expandable throat pouch allows them to scoop up many fish at a time. They work together cooperatively by herding fish into the shallows before dipping their bills in unison. While feeding, Pelicans will sometimes submerge their heads underwater to catch bottom-dwelling prey. Besides fish they sometimes eat salamanders, crayfish, and tadpoles.
Breeding and Nesting
American White Pelicans return to traditional nesting colonies each spring once the ice has thawed on lakes and ponds. Nesting season runs from March to August depending on latitude. Males establish breeding territories through a combination of displays and fighting. Once pairs form, the female scrapes a shallow depression and lines it with vegetation and feathers. The birds show strong nest site fidelity, often reusing nests from previous years.
Females lay 1-6 eggs within a few days. Parents take turns incubating the eggs for about a month until they hatch. The young pelicans are helpless at birth and rely on their parents for warmth and food. They grow rapidly on a diet of regurgitated fish. By 3-4 weeks the chicks congregate in pods or crèches guarded by a few adults while the rest are off feeding. The young fledge at 10-11 weeks and soon disperse from the breeding grounds.
Migration in Louisiana
Starting in September, American White Pelicans begin arriving along the Louisiana coast and inland lakes from their northern breeding grounds. The birds follow major river systems like the Mississippi River guiding them to the Gulf of Mexico. Estuaries, lakes, and flooded fields in southern Louisiana provide an abundance of winter habitat. Some major wintering sites include Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge near Lake Charles, the Atchafalaya River Basin along the central coast, and in marshes and estuaries throughout the Mississippi River Delta.
The American White Pelican is a social bird, feeding, resting, and roosting in flocks of hundreds or thousands of birds during winter. In Louisiana, White Pelicans often mingle with migrating and wintering Brown Pelicans along the coast, but they usually feed in separate groups and can be distinguished by size and bill color. By March most of the pelicans have migrated back north to their summer breeding grounds. A few non-breeding birds and injured birds unable to complete the long migration remain in Louisiana year-round.
Population Status
The American White Pelican underwent serious population declines in the first half of the 20th century from persecution, draining of wetlands, and pesticide contamination. Protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1972 helped reverse the declines. Improved water quality and habitat protection also enabled population recovery.
Current estimates place the North American population between 115,000-180,000 birds. While still below historical numbers, many populations are now stable or increasing. Ongoing threats include disturbance of nesting colonies, disease outbreaks, habitat loss, and increasing drought and water use in breeding areas. The species has adapted to using manmade reservoirs which may aid population resilience. Due to its large and increasing population, the American White Pelican is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Population Estimate Timeline
| Year | Population Estimate |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 50,000 birds |
| 1972 | 75,000 birds |
| 1990 | 115,000 birds |
| 2005 | 166,000 birds |
| 2013 | 180,000 birds |
Interactions with Humans
The large size, social behavior, and adaptations of the American White Pelican make them a popular sight for birders and nature enthusiasts. Huge flocks wheeling over wetlands or lining up to scoop fish provide memorable scenes of wild America. This is especially true during winter along the warm Louisiana coast.
There are some conflicts between pelicans and commercial fishermen or aquaculture operations. However, studies show pelicans take mostly unwanted fish species. Pelicans may also compete with other bird species like cormorants over food resources and nesting sites. Careful management of water levels, natural habitats, and nesting islands helps reduce conflicts.
Responsible wildlife viewing is encouraged around pelican breeding and roosting colonies. Nesting birds are highly sensitive to disturbance which may lead adults to abandon chicks. Maintaining a safe viewing distance and avoiding loud noises helps minimize impact. Many wildlife refuges provide trails, viewing platforms, and interpretive programs to facilitate engaging with pelicans in a sustainable way.
Interesting Facts
- The throat pouch of the American White Pelican can hold 3 gallons of water and fish.
- Young pelicans poke their heads fully inside the adult’s pouch to feed.
- A group of pelicans on the water is called a pod.
- Pelicans work together by herding fish into shallow areas to feed more efficiently.
- The American White Pelican is one of the largest North American birds with a wingspan up to 9.5 feet.
- Their bright orange bill and pouch become bright pink during breeding season.
- Both parents share equally in incubating eggs and feeding young.
- Pelicans are very sensitive to human disturbance at nesting colonies.
- Their huge wings allow pelicans to soar to great heights on thermals.
- Fossil records date early pelican ancestors to the late Oligocene, over 20 million years ago.
Conclusion
The American White Pelican is an iconic wetland bird and important part of healthy aquatic ecosystems. Louisiana provides critical wintering grounds for many pelicans that migrate from northern breeding areas. These large white waterbirds are fascinating to observe as they engage in cooperative feeding, nest in huge colonies, and socialize in dense flocks year-round. Protecting wetland habitats and minimizing human disturbance are key to ensuring thriving pelican populations into the future. The presence of American White Pelicans wintering across Louisiana’s coasts and inland lakes is a sign of wildness persisting within the state.
