{"id":14431,"date":"2014-02-23T06:07:32","date_gmt":"2014-02-23T13:07:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=14431"},"modified":"2024-02-22T14:17:45","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T21:17:45","slug":"comparing-american-white-pelicans-to-brown-pelicans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/02\/23\/comparing-american-white-pelicans-to-brown-pelicans\/","title":{"rendered":"Comparing American White Pelicans to Brown Pelicans"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AdultAdult American White Pelican – Nikon D200, f8, 1\/1000, ISO 320, +03 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 357mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

The recent arrival of American White Pelicans to the Salt Lake Valley started me thinking about the differences between Brown Pelicans and American White Pelicans. The obvious difference is the color of these large fish eating birds but there are other differences too. American White Pelicans are larger than Brown Pelicans with a wingspan of up to 108 inches and a weight of around 16.4 pounds. The upper mandible is yellow to pinkish and the pouch is yellow with hints of orange near the base, the bare skin around the eyes is yellow and the legs and feet vary from yellowish green in Definitive Basic plumage to orange-red in Definitive Alternate plumage.<\/p>\n

\"BrownAdult Brown Pelican in nonbreeding plumage – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1\/1000, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 280mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Brown Pelicans have a wingspan of about 79 inches which is about 2 1\/2 feet less than American White Pelicans and Brown Pelicans are also about half the weight of American White Pelicans at approximately 8.2 pounds. The pouch of Atlantic Brown Pelicans is a grayish\u00a0and during breeding season\u00a0Pacific Brown Pelicans have a reddish orange pouch closest to the face and grayish green towards the tip of the bill. The feet and legs of Brown Pelicans are gray to black depending on age and season.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican White Pelicans cooperatively foraging\u00a0– Nikon D200, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 400, -03 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 228mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

American White Pelicans forage cooperatively\u00a0and will often display synchronized movements while foraging. They dip their bills into the water, scoop up the prey into their pouches\u00a0and then raise their bills horizontally to swallow the prey. They forage from the surface of the water. I often think that their foraging behavior\u00a0almost like\u00a0watching a ballet.<\/p>\n

\"BrownBrown Pelicans plunge-diving\u00a0– Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1\/1000, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Brown Pelicans plunge dive for their prey and it can look quite dramatic at times. They fly over the prey, fold their wings and plunge head first into the water. They then surface with their bills close to their bodies and allow the water to drain out of the pouch then they swallow their prey with a toss of their heads. I once saw a Brown Pelican swallow a small shark in one gulp. Brown Pelicans; including\u00a0Peruvian Pelicans, are the only pelicans to feed using the plunge-dive method. Watching a squadron of a hundred or more Brown Pelicans plunge diving is exciting!<\/p>\n

There are of course other differences that I haven’t mentioned but I think I have covered the basics.<\/p>\n

I find comparing American White Pelicans to Brown Pelicans to be interesting because they are excellent subjects to observe and photograph.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

PS: There are a few records of Brown Pelicans in Utah, the most recent sightings were in May of 2004. (More recently a long staying Brown Pelican was at Bear River MBR in the summer of 2019)<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my American White Pelican photos and here<\/span><\/a> for my Brown Pelican photos. Each page has facts and information about the individual species.<\/p>\n

The American White Pelicans were photographed in Utah, the single bird in Salt Lake County and the foraging pelicans at Farmington Bay WMA<\/span><\/a>. The Brown Pelicans were photographed at Fort De Soto County Park<\/span><\/a> in Florida.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The recent arrival of American White Pelicans to the Salt Lake Valley started me thinking about the differences between Brown Pelicans and American White Pelicans. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":121786,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,27,143,1022,697,25,704,709,26],"tags":[4004,3966,2473,3994,4804,4982,2472,4077,5013,4154,4158,4,706,2474],"class_list":["post-14431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-white-pelicans","category-avian","category-brown-pelicans","category-davis-county-utah","category-farmington-bay-wma","category-florida","category-fort-de-soto-county-park","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-american-white-pelican","tag-bill-dipping","tag-brown-pelican","tag-comparing","tag-comparison","tag-cooperative-foraging","tag-gulf-of-mexico","tag-identification","tag-pelecanus-erythrorhynchos","tag-pelecanus-occidentalis","tag-pelican","tag-pelicans","tag-plunge-diving"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/brown-pelicans-feeding-mia-mcpherson-3721.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-3KL","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8420,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/05\/24\/big-beautiful-american-white-pelicans\/","url_meta":{"origin":14431,"position":0},"title":"Big, Beautiful American White Pelicans","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge there were two American White Pelicans that were close enough to photograph as they floated on the Bear River, it was a cloudless morning so the river was a gorgeous blue which always sets off the whites of these big, beautiful birds.","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American White Pelican afloat on the Bear River, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-white-pelican-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-8745.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-white-pelican-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-8745.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-white-pelican-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-8745.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-white-pelican-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-8745.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4851,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/04\/21\/american-white-pelicans-of-the-great-basin\/","url_meta":{"origin":14431,"position":1},"title":"American White Pelicans of the Great Basin","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 21, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"During the winter months I miss seeing large flocks of American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) soaring in the thermals, in the past few weeks I have been delighted to see them again.","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fluffed up American White Pelican, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/american-white-pelican-fluffed-mia-mcpherson-4670.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/american-white-pelican-fluffed-mia-mcpherson-4670.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/american-white-pelican-fluffed-mia-mcpherson-4670.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/american-white-pelican-fluffed-mia-mcpherson-4670.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10403,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/11\/12\/an-american-white-pelicans-horn\/","url_meta":{"origin":14431,"position":2},"title":"An American White Pelican “Horn”","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 12, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The horn is a growth on the bill of American White Pelicans that occurs during the breeding season and I am fortunate to live in a location where these big, white pelicans breed.","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American White Pelican\u2019s \u201chorn\u201d, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-stretching-mia-mcpherson-3384.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-stretching-mia-mcpherson-3384.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-stretching-mia-mcpherson-3384.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-stretching-mia-mcpherson-3384.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45773,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/03\/26\/american-white-pelicans-pelicam-and-pelitrack\/","url_meta":{"origin":14431,"position":3},"title":"American White Pelicans – PeliCam and PeliTrack","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 26, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"American White Pelicans are returning to their breeding grounds in Utah and I have already seen a few of them myself and though I haven't been able to photograph them yet I know I will soon.","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American White Pelicans near the auto tour loop at BRMBR, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-white-pelicans-bear-river-mbr-mia-mcpherson-8799.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-white-pelicans-bear-river-mbr-mia-mcpherson-8799.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-white-pelicans-bear-river-mbr-mia-mcpherson-8799.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-white-pelicans-bear-river-mbr-mia-mcpherson-8799.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9844,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/10\/19\/american-white-pelican-lifting-off\/","url_meta":{"origin":14431,"position":4},"title":"American White Pelican Lifting Off","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 19, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"This American White Pelican was taking off from a pond near where I live in Salt Lake County and I happened to click the shutter when its wings were extended upwards and when its feet had just slapped the water","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American White Pelican lifting off, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-3506.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-3506.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-3506.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-3506.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":112311,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/04\/16\/spring-american-white-pelican-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":14431,"position":5},"title":"Spring American White Pelican Photos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 16, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"This collection of American White Pelican photos were taken starting the 6th of April. Some of the images show the snow from a snowstorm earlier this month.","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American White Pelican in a morning mist, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/american-white-pelican-adult-mist-mia-mcpherson-0481.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/american-white-pelican-adult-mist-mia-mcpherson-0481.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/american-white-pelican-adult-mist-mia-mcpherson-0481.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/american-white-pelican-adult-mist-mia-mcpherson-0481.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14431"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14431\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}