Brown Pelican
Where to Look
- Common throughout the Galapagos Marine Reserve and along shorelines.
Related Galapagos Species
Flightless Cormorant
Identification
Unmistakeable. The only pelican in the Galapagos.
Description
Adult has grey to grey-brown upperparts, dark brown belly and silver and black streaked underparts. Molt of neck and head poduces three distinct variations anually. At the onset of the breeding season, adults have yellowish heads and dark brown necks, during the nesting period, they have dark brown necks and white heads and after breeding, they have pale yellow heads and white necks. Sexes are similar, but males are slightly larger and longer billed than females. Juveniles are pale brown overall with white bellies.
Galapagos Distribution
Found throughout the entire archipelago, in marine habitats.
Global Distribution
Ocurs both along the East and West coasts of the USA south throughout the Carribean to the northern coastline of South America and to Northern Peru in the West.
Status in the Galapagos
The endemic subspecies which occurs is a common resident.