Search results for Mating

1 2 3 4 -5-
Brown pelican portrait, displaying winter plumage with distinctive yellow head feathers and colorful gular throat pouch, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Three California brown pelicans mock jousting, displaying vividly-colored throat skin and mating plumage. Two display full breeding plumage with brown hind-neck, the third appears to be sub-adult. Note also these three display yellow, orange and the more-typical red throat coloration, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
Brown pelican portrait, displaying winter breeding plumage with distinctive dark brown nape, yellow head feathers and red gular throat pouch, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Brown pelican. This large seabird has a wingspan over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status, due largely to predation in the early 1900s and to decades of poor reproduction caused by DDT poisoning. In winter months, breeding adults assume a dramatic plumage with brown neck, yellow and white head and bright red gular throat pouch, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
Male elk bugling during the fall rut. Large male elk are known as bulls. Male elk have large antlers which are shed each year. Male elk engage in competitive mating behaviors during the rut, including posturing, antler wrestling and bugling, a loud series of screams which is intended to establish dominance over other males and attract females, Cervus canadensis, Madison River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Bull elk in sage brush with large rack of antlers during the fall rut (mating season). This bull elk has sparred with other bulls to establish his harem of females with which he hopes to mate, Cervus canadensis, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Brown pelican, winter plumage, showing bright red gular pouch and dark brown hindneck colors of breeding adults. This large seabird has a wingspan over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status, due largely to predation in the early 1900s and to decades of poor reproduction caused by DDT poisoning, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
Brown pelican head throw, winter plumage, showing bright red gular pouch and dark brown hindneck plumage of breeding adults. During a bill throw, the pelican arches its neck back, lifting its large bill upward and stretching its throat pouch, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Brown pelican closeup showing characteristic winter mating plumage, including yellow head, dark brown nape of neck and red gular throat pouch, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Brown pelican portrait, displaying winter breeding plumage with distinctive dark brown nape, yellow head feathers and red gular throat pouch, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Sea otters mating. The male holds the female's head or nose with his jaws during copulation. Visible scars are often present on females from this behavior. Sea otters have a polygynous mating system. Many males actively defend territories and will mate with females that inhabit their territory or seek out females in estrus if no territory is established. Males and females typically bond for the duration of estrus, or about 3 days, Enhydra lutris, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Moss Landing, California
California Brown Pelican head throw, stretching its throat to keep it flexible and healthy. Note the winter mating plumage, olive and red throat, yellow head, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
Brown pelican stretches its neck, to keep its throat pouch limber. The characteristic winter mating plumage of the California race of brown pelican is shown, with deep red gular throat, yellow head and dark brown hindneck, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
Portrait of California brown pelican, with the characteristic winter mating plumage shown: red throat, yellow head and dark brown hindneck, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
Brown pelican, winter plumage, showing bright red gular pouch and dark brown hindneck colors of breeding adults. This large seabird has a wingspan over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status, due largely to predation in the early 1900s and to decades of poor reproduction caused by DDT poisoning, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
Brown pelican portrait, displaying winter breeding plumage with distinctive dark brown nape, yellow head feathers and red gular throat pouch, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
California brown pelican preening, bill and feather detail, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
California brown pelican, bill detail, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
Brown pelican raising its bill in a head throw to stretch is throat. Winter plumage, non-mating coloration, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Brown pelican portrait, winter mating plumage with distinctive dark brown nape and red gular throat pouch, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Brown pelican head throw, winter plumage, showing bright red gular pouch and dark brown hindneck plumage of breeding adults. During a bill throw, the pelican arches its neck back, lifting its large bill upward and stretching its throat pouch, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Adult male humpback whale singing, suspended motionless underwater. Only male humpbacks have been observed singing. All humpbacks in the North Pacific sing the same whale song each year, and the song changes slightly from one year to the next, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Mated pair of Brandt's Cormorants tend to the nest they have built on sea cliffs. Note the colors they assume during mating season: striking blue gular pouch (throat) along with faint blue-green iridescence in their plumage, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, 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. Note the yellow throat of this individual, different than the more typical red throat, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Clarks Grebes, courting pair, Lake Hodges, Aechmophorus clarkii, San Diego, California
California brown pelican portrait with breeding plumage, note the striking red throat, yellow and white head, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
Contemplative brown pelican portrait on overcast day, with surf and foam in the background. Breeding plumage with yellow and white head, red throat, brown neck, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Western Grebes rushing in a courtship display. Rushiing grebes run across the water 60 feet (20m) or further with their feet hitting the water as rapidly as 20 times per second, Aechmophorus occidentalis, Lake Hodges, San Diego, California
California brown pelican breeding plumage portrait. While this adult brown pelican exhibits the brown hind neck of a breeding adult, it displays an unusual yellow throat rather than the more typical red throat, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
Brown pelicans jousting with their long bills, competing for space on a sea cliff over the ocean, with bright red throat, yellow and white head, adult non-breeding winter plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
1 2 3 4 -5-
Permalink: Mating photos

All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.