The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is a largeseabird, instantly recognizable by its huge bill equipped with an expandable throat pouch, the gular pouch. Unlike other pelicans that fish in groups on the surface, the Brown Pelican is known for its spectacular and solitary fishing technique: plunge-diving. It patrols the air before folding its wings and slicing through the water to capture its prey, an unforgettable sight for any observer.
By the Les-Oiseaux.com team, published on July 25, 2025
My advice: For the Brown Pelican, the show happens above the water. Forget about being discreet and find a spot on a pier, dock, or quiet beach. Patience is key.
Look for one or more of these large birds patrolling in a low formation over the waves. Suddenly, one will tip over, fold its wings, and cut through the water in a powerful and precise plunge-dive. Watch it then resurface, drain the water from its large gular pouch, and swallow its catch. It is this aerial fishing technique that is THE unforgettable signature of the Brown Pelican.
Its plumage varies considerably with age and season.
| Characteristic | Male | Female | Record / Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 105 – 150 cm | 100 – 140 cm | 100 – 152 cm (adults) |
| Weight | 2.7 – 5 kg | 2.1 – 4 kg | 2 – 9 kg (adults) |
| Wingspan | 200 – 228 cm | 200 – 220 cm | 200 – 228 cm (adults) |
| Diet | Piscivorous/Carnivorous | Piscivorous/Carnivorous | Fish (primarily), crustaceans, worms, carrion |
| Life Expectancy | 25 – 40 years | 25 – 40 years | Up to 43 years (in the wild) |
These figures confirm that the Brown Pelican is a large aquatic bird of the American coasts, renowned for its plunge-diving fishing technique and its distinctive plumage.
Although their silhouettes are similar, the Brown Pelican is often confused with the American White Pelican (*Pelecanus erythrorhynchos*), especially in areas where their ranges overlap. Their color is an obvious clue, but their fishing behavior is the most foolproof criterion.
Tip: The fishing method is the best way to tell them apart from a distance. If a pelican dives headfirst into the ocean, it's a Brown Pelican. If it's floating and fishing in a group, it's an White Pelican.
The Brown Pelican is a mostly silent bird, especially away from its colonies. At nesting sites, adults may produce a variety of harsh grunts and croaks. The young emit piercing screams to beg for food.
The Brown Pelican is a strictly coastal and marine bird. It is found on coasts, estuaries, bays, and in mangroves. It avoids the open sea and rarely ventures far inland.
Its range extends along the coasts of the Americas, from Nova Scotia in the north to the mouth of the Amazon River in the south in the Atlantic, and from British Columbia to Chile in the Pacific.
The Brown Pelican's diet consists almost exclusively of fish (such as anchovies, sardines, and menhaden). Its hunting technique is unique: it spots its prey while flying up to 65 feet (20 meters) high, then plunges headfirst with its wings folded. Just before impact, it twists to absorb the shock with its chest and gular pouch. Underwater, its pouch expands to scoop up fish and a large amount of water (up to 2.6 gallons or 10 liters). It then surfaces, points its bill downward to drain the water, and swallows the fish.
The Brown Pelican nests in colonies, sometimes consisting of several thousand pairs. The nest, a simple structure of sticks and debris, is built either on the ground on isolated islands or in bushes or trees like mangroves. The female typically lays 2 to 3 chalky-white eggs. Both parents take turns incubating, which is unusual: they incubate not with their belly but with the webbing of their feet, which are rich in blood vessels.
Contrary to popular belief, no. The pelican's gular pouch serves as a net to catch fish, but not as a "shopping basket." Once the water is drained, it swallows its prey immediately. It never flies with food in its pouch.
The Brown Pelican is a common resident of the Americas. It can be easily spotted along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts, from North America down to South America, as well as throughout the Caribbean.
The Brown Pelican was on the brink of extinction in the 1960s and 70s due to poisoning from DDT, a pesticide that thinned its eggshells. Following the ban on DDT, its populations made a spectacular recovery. Today, the species is listed as "Least Concern" (LC) by the IUCN, although it remains threatened by plastic pollution, habitat loss, and overfishing.