American White Pelican Graceful Landing

It is one of the largest birds in North American with a 9-foot wingspan. The plumage is almost entirely bright white, except the black primary and... more

by Eva Kaufman

Title

American White Pelican Graceful Landing

Artist

Eva Kaufman

Medium

Digital Art - Photographs, Painting, Digital Art, Watercolor

Description

It is one of the largest birds in North American with a 9-foot wingspan. The plumage is almost entirely bright white, except the black primary and secondary quills, which are hardly visible except in flight. The bill is huge and flat on the top, with a large throat sac below. In the breeding season, its bill is vivid orange in color and a laterally flattened "horn" on the upper bill. The horn is shed after the birds have mated and laid their eggs. Immature birds have light grey plumage with darker brownish nape and quills.

The American White Pelican is similar to Brown Pelican in shape but much larger and very different in habits. It lives far inland, feeds cooperatively in shallow lakes and does not dive from the air for fish. On the water it dips its pouched bill to scoop up fish, or tip-up like an oversized dabbling duck. It uses its pouch to scoop up food but swallow its catch before flying off. Other animals eaten by these birds are crayfish and amphibians. Sometimes, a group of pelicans would work together to herd fish into the shallows for easy feeding. Pelicans are skillful food thieves. They steal from other pelicans trying to swallow large fish and are successful about one-third of the time.

Uploaded

April 26th, 2022