Above: A couple of Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) losing part of their catch to a gull.
There are 8 species of pelicans worldwide but we normally only see one or two. By far the most plentiful are the Brown Pelicans.
Below: I believe these are Great White Pelicans (Pelecanus onocratalus) on an inland brackish waterway.
Pelicans are large birds with large pouched bills. The smallest is the Brown Pelican, small individuals of which can be as little as 2.75 kg (6 lb), 106 cm (42 in) long and can have a wingspan of as little as 1.83 m (6 ft).
This is the Peruvian Pelican (Pelecanus thagus). . . obviously not liking his photo made. He quickly retreats when the photographer gets too close.
Pelicans swim well with their short, strong legs and their feet with all four toes webbed (as in all birds placed in the order Pelecaniformes). The tail is short and square, with 20 to 24 feathers. The wings are long and have the unusually large number of 30 to 35 secondary flight feathers. A layer of special fibers deep in the breast muscles can hold the wings rigidly horizontal for gliding and soaring. Thus they can exploit thermals to commute over 150 km (100 miles) to feeding areas.
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