Cattle Egret, Bulbucus ibis

Thursday, February 12, 2009

BROWN PELICAN ALTERNATE PLUMAGES

A Brown Pelican isn't likely to be very brown. The juveniles have a definite blue tinge, and an adults neck may be white, or chestnut brown. The colors intensify as breeding season nears. The Brown Pelican is the smallest of the pelicans, and the only one that catches fish by diving. The other pelicans fish while floating, sometimes using teamwork to herd fish into clusters.
The wingspans vary from 6 to 9 feet, none of them are small birds. I've seen pictures of a Brown Pelican swallowing a full grown Marsh Rabbit. No explanation accompanied the pictures, but Marsh Rabbits are strong swimmers, so a rabbit in the water is a definite possibility.

1 comment:

Glennis said...

Such a great selection of beautiful birds, wonderful photos.

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CURRENT MOON

FISH CROW

Boat-tailed Grackle Quiscalus major fem

Wood Stork Mycteria americana

Wood Stork Mycteria americana

RINGED BILL GULL

MALLARD Anas Platyrhynchos

RINGED BILL GULL

MALLARDS and REDEAR SLIDER

Tricolored heron Egretta tricolor

Tricolored heron Egretta tricolor

Tricolored heron Egretta tricolor

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Brown Pelican chestnut neck

Brown Pelican white neck

Brown Pelican juvenile


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Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura

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