Since we're talking about seabirds these days, let’s take a moment to appreciate one of California’s most intriguing residents—the Brown Pelican. Where do we even begin? The thrilling dives? That incredible beak?
There’s so much to admire about this bird that we decided to put together a list of fascinating facts. Feel free to add any we might have missed!
1. Brown Pelicans are famous for their spectacular dives, plunging into the water from heights of up to 65 feet.
2. If humans tried diving from such heights repeatedly, injuries would be inevitable. But Brown Pelicans have evolved to handle the impact. Beneath their skin are special air sacs that inflate just before they hit the water, protecting their internal organs. To top it off, they twist their bodies mid-dive to the left to avoid injuring their trachea and esophagus, which are located on the right side of their necks.
3. Pelicans boast some pretty fun collective nouns. Among them: "brief,” "pod," "pouch," "scoop," “squadron,” and “rookery.”
4. The oldest Brown Pelican on record lived an impressive 43 years.
5. There’s a playful poem by Dixon Lanier Merritt that captures the charm of these birds:
Oh, a wondrous bird is the pelican,
His bill can hold more than his belican,
He can take in his beak,
Food enough for a week,
But we are done if we see how the helican.
6. The poem isn’t far from the truth. A Brown Pelican’s pouch can hold up to three gallons of water, while its stomach has a capacity of about one gallon.
7. Pelicans have mastered the art of aiming underwater. By diving at steep angles—usually between 60 and 90 degrees—they reduce water refraction, improving their accuracy when hunting fish.
8. The Brown Pelican is proudly recognized as the state bird of Louisiana.
9. Though they might look awkward on land, Brown Pelicans are magnificent flyers. Groups often glide in V-formations, which may have inspired the term "squadron." They also skim low over the water, utilizing light breezes reflected off waves—a technique called lift—that makes their flight both efficient and visually striking.
10. If the Brown Pelican’s appearance strikes you as ancient, there’s a reason for that. Their physical traits have remained largely unchanged for 30 to 40 million years.
11. Brown Pelicans use their webbed feet to incubate their eggs—a unique method in the bird world.
12. Gulls often try to steal fish from a Brown Pelican’s pouch as it drains water after a dive.
13. While Brown Pelicans dive dramatically for their meals, their North American relative, the American White Pelican, prefers a gentler approach, scooping up fish from the water’s surface.
14. During the 1960s and 1970s, the Brown Pelican population in North America faced near-extinction due to DDT exposure. Thankfully, conservation efforts have led to their remarkable recovery.
15. In their courtship rituals, male Brown Pelicans select nest sites to attract potential mates and entice them to build the nest together.
