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Juvenile Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

Description:

The brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, is characterized by an extremely large gray bill, pale yellow eyes, black legs and feet, and an unfeathered black throat pouch (e.g. Terres 1980; Farrand 1983). Plumage coloration varies with age and season, and descriptions are divided accordingly below. Both sexes exhibit identical coloration at each phase. Juvenile/Immature Plumage is mostly brown above, blending to a white breast and underparts (Farrand 1983; Harrison 1996). Adult plumage is acquired by the third year.

Habitat:

Populations are found around beaches, bays and a variety of habitats in tidal estuaries (Farrand 1983). Brown pelicans are rarely seen inland except accidentally as the result of hurricanes and other strong storms (Terres 1980).

Notes:

This pelican was flying around The Pier in St. Petersburg, Florida by the Tampa Bay.

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21 Comments

LaurieWinters
LaurieWinters 12 years ago

Thank you very much, Saarbrigger.

Saarbrigger
Saarbrigger 12 years ago

Great pictures.

LaurieWinters
LaurieWinters 12 years ago

Thanks for the nice comments!

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 12 years ago

awesome as usual!

nok2007
nok2007 12 years ago

สบาย ๆ ^_^

Palaimon
Palaimon 12 years ago

amazing series!!

CarolSnowMilne
CarolSnowMilne 12 years ago

see your photos are going viral! Famous Laurie Winters, bird photographer. Are u? HA!

LaurieWinters
LaurieWinters 12 years ago

Thank you all for such positive feedback!

Thurd13
Thurd13 12 years ago

Great photos and series!

HeatherMiller
HeatherMiller 12 years ago

LOVE the colors in this series. Great job!

Ava T-B
Ava T-B 12 years ago

Really lovely spotting!

CarolSnowMilne
CarolSnowMilne 12 years ago

Only a few photos make me want to weep. (A good thing) HA! This series ... well, so great. It was a pleasure viewing them.

LaurieWinters
LaurieWinters 12 years ago

Thank you, Geeta!

GeetaPande
GeetaPande 12 years ago

Really nice 11111

LaurieWinters
LaurieWinters 12 years ago

Thank you, Atul.

Atul
Atul 12 years ago

great series Laurie
really nice pics

LaurieWinters
LaurieWinters 12 years ago

Thanks, Sean.

SeanWeekly
SeanWeekly 12 years ago

Beautiful picture Laurie

Wild Things
Wild Things 12 years ago

Welcome :)

LaurieWinters
LaurieWinters 12 years ago

Thank you, Satyen.

Wild Things
Wild Things 12 years ago

Wow, nice bird and info.

LaurieWinters
Spotted by
LaurieWinters

St. Petersburg, Florida, USA

Spotted on Nov 5, 2011
Submitted on Nov 7, 2011

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Reference

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