Identification Photos: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis: The Brown Pelican is a social sea bird that is a member of the Pelecanidae Family. The Brown Pelican can become very friendly to fishermen who offer it free fish. However, it remains strangely silent at all times.

This large bird of prey is found only in the southern portions of North America near salt water. The Brown Pelican is easy to recognize being the only nonwhite pelican in the world. Its body reaches 41 inches in length, weighs 6 to 7 pounds, and has a wing span of up to 7.5 feet. It is difficult to tell males from females. However, females are larger and have yellow-white necks and brown coloration is absent. Mature adults have a white foreneck, a head with a yellow crown, and grey-brown body. The juveniles are dark brown overall transitioning to adult coloration over three years.

The Brown Pelican has a long dark bill with a pouch that can hold up to three gallons of water and fish. It feeds exclusively on fish, plunge diving from 50 feet. It consumes it catch onsite and does not transport food; it is plagued by fish robbing gulls.

The Brown Pelican is found in all coastal areas of Mexico including sandy beaches, lagoons, waterfronts, and marinas. It lives in flocks of males and females and travels in either V formation or in a straight line formation with tucked necks. When the waves run high, you may see them "troughing," as the sailors say, taking a course along the hollows of the waves.

The Brown Pelican is considered to be excellent weathermen and when seen fishing all together, in quiet bays, a storm will soon arrive; but if they are far out at sea, the weather will be fine. They have one brood per year, producing 3 eggs which require 30 days for incubation. In the United States the Brown Pelican is considered to be an endangered species.