Pelicans (Pelicanidae)

Two species of pelicans occur in NC: Brown Pelican and American White Pelican. Brown Pelicans are common along the immediate coast and breed in a few locations, especially near Wilmington. American White Pelicans are rare migrants or wanderers in NC and are not reported every year.

	Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis) Note the immature (foreground) has a brown head, while the adult (background) has a creamy to white head. Tigertail Beach County Park on Marco Island in Collier Co., FL 2 Jan 2004

		American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) Digiscoped from a long way away! Pea Island, NC 10 Dec 2005

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Created on ... January 25, 2004 | Updated on ... March 12, 2006 | jspippen@duke.edu