Brown Pelican Photos, Pelecanus occidentalis

Photos of Pelecanus occidentalis, Brown pelican
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Brown pelican in flight against pastel-colored sky at sunrise. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. In winter months, breeding adults assume a dramatic plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
A California Brown Pelican flying over the Pacific Ocean, spreads its large wings wide to slow down as it slows to land on seacliffs in La Jolla. Adult winter breeding plumage with yellow head, red throat and brown hindneck, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
California brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs. Note the classic winter breeding plumage, with bright red throat, yellow and white head and neck, and brown hind neck. Other pelicans and cormorants at the periphery of the image hint at how crowded the cliff is with other birds, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
A perfect Brown Pelican Head Throw with Distant Ocean in Background, bending over backwards, stretching its neck and gular pouch, winter adult non-breeding plumage coloration, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Brown Pelican Closeup Portrait Intense Stare, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Perfect California brown pelican breeding plumage portrait, with brown hind neck, yellow head and bright red throat, perched on rock over the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
California brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs. Adult winter non-breeding plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
California Brown Pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow before landing on cliffs, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
California brown pelican in flight, braking to land on seacliffs, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
Brown Pelicans on Goldfish Point in La Jolla, time exposure blurs the large waves, aerial photograph. In the summer we used to jump off the cliff (the "Clam") in front of the twin cave entrances seen at middle-right, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Spectacular Brown Pelican Head Throw Display. This California brown pelican is arching its head and neck way back, opening its mouth in a behavior known as a head throw or bill throw, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
California Brown Pelican head throw, stretching its throat to keep it flexible and healthy, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
Brown pelican in flight, softly lit by flash against pink predawn sky, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Brown Pelicans gather in large numbers on coastal cliffs, Goldfish Point near the Clam in La Jolla. Aerial photograph, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
A California Brown Pelican flying over the Pacific Ocean, spreads its large wings wide to slow down as it banks, turns in midair, to land on seacliffs in La Jolla. Winter adult non-breeding plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis
A perfect Brown Pelican Head Throw with Distant Ocean in Background, bending over backwards, stretching its neck and gular pouch. Note the winter breeding plumage, yellow head, red and olive throat, pink skin around the eye, brown hind neck with some white neck side detail, gray breast and body, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Brown pelican flying while entangled in plastic bag wrapped around its neck. I believe the pelican probably became entangled in the bag by mistaking the floating plastic for food and diving on it, spearing it in such a way that the bag has lodged around the pelican's neck, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis, La Jolla, California
White headed variation of a California brown pelican in breeding plumage portrait, with brown hind neck and bright red throat but lacking yellow head, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis, La Jolla
California brown pelican breeding plumage portrait, with brown hind neck, yellow head and bright red throat, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
A perfect Brown Pelican Head Throw with Distant Ocean in Background, bending over backwards, stretching its neck and gular pouch, winter adult breeding plumage coloration, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. Adult winter non-breeding plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
Brown pelican flying over waves and the surf. Pelicans ride the updrafts of waves enabling them to glide long distances while minimizing the energy exerted by flapping wings, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
A brown pelican preening, reaching with its beak to the uropygial gland (preen gland) near the base of its tail. Preen oil from the uropygial gland is spread by the pelican's beak and back of its head to all other feathers on the pelican, helping to keep them water resistant and dry. Adult winter non-breeding plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
California Brown Pelican head throw, stretching its throat to keep it flexible and healthy. Note the winter breeding plumage, olive and red throat, yellow head, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
Brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. Adult winter non-breeding plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
A California Brown Pelican flying over the Pacific Ocean, spreads its large wings wide to slow down as it banks, turns in midair, to land on seacliffs in La Jolla. Winter adult non-breeding plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis
A Perfect Yellow Phase Brown Pelican Head Throw with Distant Ocean in Background, bending over backwards, stretching its neck and gular pouch. Note the winter breeding plumage except with bright yellow throat instead of the more typical red, yellow head, pink skin around the eye, brown hind neck with some white neck side detail, gray breast and body, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Brown pelican in flight with wings spread wide, slowing as it returns from the ocean to land on seacliffs, adult winter non-breeding plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
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All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.