Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Huge American White Pelican

By: Tom Berg

Pelicans.  Anyone that has been to Florida is likely familiar with pelicans.  But the pelicans which are so common in the sunshine state or even some of the other Gulf states during the summertime are mostly brown pelicans.  American white pelicans, however, are usually only common along the Gulf coast during the winter and cold weather months.

American white pelicans are extremely large birds, with a wingspan of more than nine feet!  They are even larger than bald eagles, which have a wingspan of only seven feet.  They are heavy birds, too, since adults can weigh almost 20 pounds.  As their name suggests, American white pelicans are mostly white in color, with the exception of their jet black wingtips.  The black wings can usually only be seen during flight, as the wingtips are typically hidden when the birds are at rest.  Their huge, distinctive bill is yellowish-orange, just like their legs and feet.

As mentioned, white pelicans spend the cold winter months along southern coastlines where it is warm, along both the Gulf coast and the Pacific coast.  In the springtime, however, the majority of these birds migrate north, heading for their inland breeding grounds in the northern plains of the U.S. and the vast expanses of central Canada.  Some birds breed in the higher elevations of some of our western states, too.  Most American white pelicans are monogamous during the mating season, and breeding adults often develop an unusual (but temporary) plate or horn on the top of their long bill.

White pelicans are fish eaters, and they are surprisingly good at catching large numbers of fish.  Unlike brown pelicans which dive for fish from high in the air, white pelicans stay on the water’s surface and dip their massive bills into the water to scoop up small fish.  Groups of white pelicans often work together to force schools of minnows and other small fish into shallow water where they can be caught fairly easily.

So if you see a group of large white birds flying north this spring, take a closer look to see if they are American white pelicans.  Groups often fly in a large V-formation, similar to geese.  They are off to their breeding grounds once again!

Have you had a great outdoor experience? Join Global Outdoors and write a review to tell everyone about it! We’re building the home for trusted reviews of outdoor experiences, outfitters, and guides.