860 THE CALIFORNIA BROWN PELICAN. 
No. 346. 
CALIFORNIA BROWN PELICAN. 
A. O. U. No, 127. Pelecanus californicus Ridgw. 
Description.—Adults in breeding plumage: Bill mottled light and dark with 
various tinting of carmine; bare space about eye brownish; eyelids red; irides 
white; pouch red; feathers of head and borders of pouch white; the rest of neck 
dark chestnut to blackish; upperparts silvery gray, the feathers of back, rump, 
lesser wing-coverts, ete., edged with dusky; underparts brownish gray, striped 
with silvery white on sides, ete.; feet black. 4dult in winter: Similar but without 
chestnut on neck, white instead, the top of head and fore-neck tinged with straw- 
yellow. “Young: Head and neck light brownish gray, somewhat mottled with 
paler tips to the feathers; back, wing-coverts, etc., dull brown, the feathers tipped 
with pale fulvous; lower parts white, tinged with brownish gray laterally and 
posteriorly” (Ridgway). Length of adult: 4% feet (1371.6) or more; wing 
21.00-23.50 (533.4-590.9) ; bill 12.00-15.00 ( 304.8-381). 
Recognition Marks.—Giant size; silvery gray and brown coloration with 
immense bill distinctive. 
Nesting.—Does not breed in Washington. Nests: in colonies on the ground, 
or in low trees and bushes, of sticks, weeds, and trash. Eggs: 3 or 4, chalky 
white; elliptical ovate. Av. size, 3.10 x 1.95 (78.7% 49.5). Season: March; one 
brood. 
General Range.—Pacific Coast of America from Burrard Inlet, south to the 
Galapagos; breeds upon the Coronado Islands and southward. 
Range in Washington.— Not uncommon; sometimes abundant visitors upon 
the shores and harbors of the West Coast, in fall only. 
Authorities.—Pelecanus fuscus Linn., Cooper and Suckley, Rep. Pac. R. R. 
Surv. Vol. XII. pt. II. 1860, p. 266. T. L?. Rh. 
Specimens.—( U. of W.) Prov. 
COOPER records about all we know of this Pelican in Washington: 
“About September 1, the gray or ‘brown’ pelican enters Shoalwater bay in 
large flocks which remain until November. They feed principally during 
rising tide, wandering in long trains over the channels, and diving occasionally 
one after the other, sometimes scattering and fishing singly. They rest, during 
the intervals, on a large sand island in the mouth of the bay. I have never 
seen them in their spring migrations northward.” 
R. H. Lawrence adds: “Two mounted birds seen at South Bend,—one 
shot in November on Willapa Harbor where they are pretty common in fall. 
They are not uncommon here on Gray’s Harbor.” 
It seems probable that the California Pelicans wander north irregularly 
aiter the breeding season, which is passed on the Coronado Islands and south- 
