Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis

Taking off after a dive, this bird shows the typical adult, non-breeding plumage: uniform slate grey wings, body a shade darker, with contrasting white neck and head crowned in gold. Brown Pelicans are much more striking in colorful breeding plumage, December thru August. Neck feathers molt to a dark grey with a vertical white stripe and the golden hue of the head becomes more pronounced. The bill also becomes more colorful and the pouch turns crimson.

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