Family: PelecanidaeHabitat: Coastal waters.
Distribution: Coastal resident in the east from Maryland south to Florida and the Gulf Coast; and in the west from the Gulf of California north to Central California. Also breeds in coastal waters of the Bahamas, Central America, and South America. May be found north of this range to British Columbia in the west and New York or the New England states in the east (A.O.U. 1998). Vagrants have appeared at inland locations.
Field Marks: Large, long bill with pouch is characteristic of pelicans. Overall, Brown Pelicans are dark gray in color, with a black belly. The head and neck are white (usually tinged with yellow). In breeding plumage, the rear of the neck becomes a dark chestnut color and a yellow patch appears at the base of the foreneck.
Nest Habits: Breeds in colonies, where its simple nest of grasses or sticks is placed in trees; also may nest on the ground, in which case the nest is a simple scrape lined with feathers.
Eggs: 2-4, usually 3; 76 millimeter; white.
Incubation: Both sexes incubate the eggs and care for the young; incubation lasts approximately 28-30 days and young are capable of flight when they are about 71-88 days old.
