52 
PEL1CANI FORMES 
Distinctions. With gently tapered, sharp-pointed bill and long, whip-lash tail 
feathers, to be mistaken only for the red-billed Tropic-bird for which see above characters. 
Distribution. Tropic seas of both hemispheres. Of accidental occurrence in 
Nova Scotia. 
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SUBORDER— PELECANI. PELICANS, GANNETS, CORMORANTS, ETC. 
FAMILY PELECANOIDEA. PELICANS 
Among the very largest of American birds, with very long, flattened 
bill, and enormous throat patch. 
In Canada, only two species need be considered, both strongly charac- 
terized. One is very common on the prairies; the other is met with only 
on the two coasts and there but rarely. 
Figure 90 
White Pelican; scale, 
about T V 
125. White Pelican, le pelican blanc. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. L, about 64. 
Pure white, with black wings, long flattened bill (12 inches or over), and an enormous 
yellow gular pouch capable of holding several quarts (Figure 
90). On the top and midway the length of the bill there is 
in some cases an extraordinary, horny plate irregular in out- 
line, but erect like a rifle sight and up to an inch and a half 
in height, 'this ornament is said to be deciduous and shed 
annually. It is common to both sexes, and not the peculiar 
property of the male as is generally stated. Juveniles have 
more or less clouding of brown on nape and hind head. 
Distinctions. The above are absolutely distinctive. 
Field Marks. A great white bird with black wings and 
large, yellow throat pouch that can be seen almost as far as 
the bird itself. The only other white birds that approximate 
the pelican in size are the swans and the Whooping Crane. 
The swans have all white wings, and the crane very long legs, 
and in flight carry legs and neck outstretched, instead of 
hunching the head up on the shoulders as do the Pelicans 
(Figure 91, compare with 112 and 239). 
Nesting. On the ground, usually on bare or stony islands in the larger lakes. 
Distribution. Most of temperate North America breeding in Canada, across the 
prairies and north to near Great Slave Lake. Rare east of the Prairie Provinces, also rare 
through most of British Columbia, but is found there on some of the large lakes. 
The ponderously serious flight of these great white birds with their 
slow beat, beat, beat, and then a long dignified sail, is a common sight near 
the larger prairie waters, as they wing back and forth between the lakes 
and feeding grounds. They fly in long, evenly spaced lines, abreast, in 
tandem, or in V’s. Pelicans are communists, individualism is unknown 
among them. The way one faces, they all face; as one poses, they all pose. 
Standing on a bare sandbar, they line up in military formation and digest 
their dinners together. Flying, they assume 
their appointed positions, and, taking the beat 
from their leader, keep time with him, flapping 
and sailing together. No more beautiful sight 
may be seen on the prairies than a long line of 
these great white birds, black pinioned, with 
golden pouches tucked under their chins, all 
sparkling in the sunlight in brilliant contrast 
with the deep blue water or azure sky. The 
realization of how well these seemingly awk- 
ward and ponderous hulks of birds can fly comes Figure 91 
with some little shock of surprise. We expect white Pelican 
them to drag their great bulk about clumsily appearance in flight. 
