Family: PelecanidaeHabitat: Primarily found in shallow lakes, rivers, or marshes, usually in freshwater habitats; winter habitat includes brackish marshes and estuaries or bays.
Distribution: Breeds locally in the western United States and western Canada, from British Columbia east to west-central Ontario south to California, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, and Minnesota. Winters in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, into Mexico and Central America, and along the Pacific Coast from California south to Baja California and Arizona (A.O.U. 1998).
Field Marks: Large, long orange bill with pouch is diagnostic. In flight, note black primaries and outer secondaries (compare with Snow Goose and Whooping Crane). Immatures told by grayish-colored head and neck.
Nest Habits: Breeds in colonies, where its nest (a simple scrape or depression in the ground) is placed on islands in freshwater lakes or occasionally in brackish waters.
Eggs: 1-6, usually 2; 90 millimeter; white.
Incubation: Both sexes incubate the eggs and care for the young; incubation lasts approximately 29-36 days and young are capable of flight when they are about 60 days old.
