Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
The smallest pelican and the only one that plunge-dives from high in the air to catch fish.
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About the Brown Pelican
Brown pelicans are 3 to 5 feet long and weigh more than 7 pounds, making them the smallest pelicans. They have white heads, gray-brown bodies and long bills with pouches. They live along coasts from Virginia to Brazil and from California to Chile, including the Gulf Coast and the Galápagos. They spot fish from 60 to 100 feet up, then fold their wings and dive into the water.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Pelecanus occidentalis[1]
- Size
- 3 to 5 feet long.[1]
- Weight
- Over 7 pounds.[1]
- Lifespan
- Usually 25 to 30 years.[1]
- Diet
- Carnivore. Mostly small fish.[1]
- Habitat
- Ocean coasts, bays and mangroves.[1]
- Where it lives
- Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts of the Americas and the Galápagos.[1]
- Group life
- Large flocks; nests in colonies.[1]
- Babies
- 2 or 3 eggs, incubated for 28 to 30 days.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2018).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- pouch
- A stretchy pocket of skin, like the one under a pelican's bill.
- pesticide
- A chemical used to kill pests such as insects.
- colony
- A large group of animals of one kind that live or nest together.
- carnivore
- An animal that eats mostly meat.
- least concern
- A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.
See it in person
- Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · American TrailSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.
Sources
- [1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Brown pelican.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/brown-pelican (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Pelecanus occidentalis (Brown Pelican).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22733989/132663224 (accessed 2026-10-08)
Facts last checked 2026-10-08.
