American White Pelican, Pelicanus erithrorhynchos
American White Pelican, 10/25/10, Shoreline Park, Mountain View
American White Pelicans winter in large numbers in and around San Francisco Bay, where a few of their cousins, the Brown Pelicans,
can also be found. Along the ocean shore, Brown Pelicans are much more common than American Whites.
American White Pelican, 10/6/2010, Shoreline Park, Mountain View
Taking a bath.
American White Pelican, landing, 10/6/10, Shoreline Park, Mountain View
Coming in for a landing.
American White Pelicans, feeding, 11/29/08, Shoreline Park, Mountain View
While Brown Pelicans mostly dive for fish from above, White Pelicans forage at the surface, usually in groups, often herding fish into a confined space where they can catch them.


American White Pelican, swallowing fish, 9/13/07, Palo Alto Baylands
This pelican has just caught the fish that is visible in its large pouch.
American White Pelican, flying, 7/10/08, Edwards NWR, Alviso
American White Pelicans, flying, 12/17/06, Edwards NWR, Alviso
American White Pelicans nest in lakes in the interior west of North America,
and winter along the coasts. In migration, they are often seen flying in large
groups over land.
American White Pelicans, 9/3/09, Shoreline Park, Mountain View