Brown pelican
Images copyright by Mark A. Chappell
As the early winter breeding season approaches, California brown pelicans change from a conservative gray-and-white coloration to a much brighter appearance, with a bright red flush to the throat pouch, a rich brownish hindneck contrasting with the yellowish head plumes, and a black-and-white 'frame' on the bottom of the pouch. Most of these birds were on a rocky cliff in La Jolla, California, but the two in the next-to-last row were photographed in Florida; this race lacks the colorful red throat sported by the California brown pelican in breeding season. More pelican pictures: fishing birds here; flight pictures here; swimming pictures here
