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Pelecanus occidentalis Linnaeus, 1766
Brown Pelican
Family: Pelecanidae
Introduction to the Birds

Photograph

© Ryan Merrill     (Photo ID #9401)

Map

Introduction


According to the BCCDC (2010), "Brown pelicans inhabitat mainly coastal waters and rarely are seen inland or far out at sea. They feed mostly in shallow estuarine waters, less often up to 40 miles from shore. They make extensive use of sand spits, offshore sand bars, and islets for nocturnal roosting and daily loafing, especially nonbreeders and during the non-nesting season. Dry roosting sites are essential." Our subspecies, P. occidentalis californicus, "breeds along Pacific coast in southern California (Anacapa Island), and in Mexico on islands off Baja California and on islands in the Gulf of California (south to Isabella and the Tres Marias Islands); possibly locally along the coast of Sonora and Sinaloa; vagrants have occurred north to British Columbia and Idaho (Johnsgard 1993)"

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
NativeSNRMNo StatusNot Listed



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