PELICANS 



(125) Pelecanus erythrorhyn- 



chos Gmel. 



(Gr., a pelican; red beak). 



WHITE PELICAN. .W. — Bill, 

 pouch, iris and feet yellow. Plum- 

 age white, with black primaries; 

 Slightly lengthened feathers on the 

 nape tinged with 3'ellowish. In the 

 breeding season the male has an 

 upright knob near the end of the 

 upper mandible. Im. — The lesser 

 wing coverts and the head are tinged 

 with gray. L., 60.00; Ex., 100.00; 

 W., 22.00; T., 6.00 (24 feathers); 

 B., 14.00; Weight about 17 lbs. 

 Ncsl — Of sticks and weeds near 

 water's edge; two or three pure white 

 eggs, 3-45 X 2.30. 



Range — Breeds from Keewatin 

 and B. C. south to Utah and Cal. 

 Winters along the Gulf coast. Cas- 

 ual in migration on the Atlantic coast. 



having an expanse of wings up to nine feet and a bill more 

 than a foot long. In winter they are abundant along the 

 Gulf coast and in the many entering rivers and their pond 

 or lake sources. In spring they migrate through the in- 

 terior to their nesting grounds on islands in large lakes 

 throughout the northwest. Shoal Lake, JVIanitoba, Klamath 

 Lakes in Oregon, and Salt Lake in Utah contain some of the 

 largest known breeding colonies. 



These pelicans nest on the ground, preferably on sandy 

 soil. The sand is scooped up in piles four to six inches high, 

 shghtly hollowed on top, and these sand nests are scantily 

 hned with twigs or grasses. Usually two, but sometimes 

 three or four, pure white eggs are laid; these are covered with 

 a chalky deposit as usual with eggs of members of this Order. 



BROWN PELICANS are maritime birds both during 

 winter and at nesting time. Since these birds are far less 

 timid than White Pelicans, much more has been observed 

 and written about their habits. Pelican Island, in the 



72 



