Birds of North America Home Page

Field Guide for all the Birds of North America


Pelicans

Pélicans

Pelecanidae

Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities

The pelicans live mostly near the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and into the central regions of North America. There are two pelican species on the continent. The American White Pelican lives in freshwater and into the interior of North America and the Brown Pelican lives along the coasts and in the seas.

pelicans

The pelicans are some of the largest birds in the world and the American White Pelican's wingspan can be as much as nine feet from tip to tip. The Brown Pelicans dive from great heights into the water and trap fish in their large pouches which makes them look quite comical.

Click on the bird names listed below to see pictures of the Pelicans seen in North America

References to Other Bird Sites:

Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.

ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.

I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.


Classic Collection of North American Birds

CCNAB