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Project Noah Nature School
Pelecanus occidentalis
Brown Pelicans are huge, stocky seabirds. They have thin necks and very long bills with a stretchy throat pouch used for capturing fish. Their wings are very long and broad and are often noticeably bowed when the birds are gliding. Adult Brown Pelicans are gray-brown birds with yellow heads and white necks. In breeding plumage, the back and sides of the neck turn a rich, dark reddish-brown. Immatures are gray-brown above (including the head and neck) with pale whitish belly and breast.
Rocky coastline at La Jolla.
A few cormorants were mixed in with the pelicans.
Spotted on May 19, 2013
Submitted on May 23, 2013
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