Brown Pelican: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Seabirds · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. Brown pelicans spot fish from up to 21 m in the air, then plunge bill-first like a kingfisher.
2. Its throat pouch lets water drain away as it scoops up prey. Back at the surface, it tips the water out, then gulps down the fish.
3. Parents feed their chicks about 70 kg of regurgitated fish over the 8 to 10 months they care for them.
4. Menhaden may make up 90% of a brown pelican's diet.
5. Brown pelicans lay two or three eggs, sometimes four. Mum and dad take turns keeping them warm for 28 to 30 days.

The quiz

1. How do brown pelicans catch fish?

• They wade in shallows
• They plunge bill-first from the air (correct)
• They steal from gulls
• They dive from the shore

They spot fish from up to 21 m and plunge bill-first like a kingfisher.

2. What does a pelican do on surfacing, before swallowing?

• Shakes its feathers dry
• Passes the fish to its mate
• Spills the water from its pouch (correct)
• Rests on the water

Back at the surface, it tips the water out of its pouch, then swallows the fish.

3. How much fish do parents feed their young in total?

• About 7 kg
• About 700 kg
• About 20 kg
• About 70 kg (correct)

Nestlings are fed around 70 kg of regurgitated fish.

4. Which fish may make up 90% of a brown pelican's diet?

• Menhaden (correct)
• Salmon
• Herring
• Tuna

Menhaden can make up as much as 90% of what it eats.

5. How long do brown pelican parents sit on their eggs?

• 8 to 10 days
• 28 to 30 days (correct)
• 3 to 4 months
• 1 year

Both parents take turns incubating the eggs for 28 to 30 days.

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