Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, #18380

Brown pelican preening, showing bright red gular pouch and dark brown hindneck plumage of breeding adults. After wiping its long beak on the uropygial gland near the base of its tail, the pelican spreads the preen oil on feathers about its body, helping to keep them water resistant, an important protection for a bird that spends much of its life diving in the ocean for prey. La Jolla, California, USA, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, natural history stock photograph, photo id 18380
Brown pelican preening, showing bright red gular pouch and dark brown hindneck plumage of breeding adults. After wiping its long beak on the uropygial gland near the base of its tail, the pelican spreads the preen oil on feathers about its body, helping to keep them water resistant, an important protection for a bird that spends much of its life diving in the ocean for prey. La Jolla, California, USA

Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 18380
Format: Digital 2:3
Keywords: adult, animal, animalia, aves, bird, breeding, brown pelican, california, chordata, coloration, creature, endangered, feather, la jolla, mating, nature, occidentalis, pelecanidae, pelecaniform, pelecaniformes, pelecanus, pelecanus occidentalis, pelecanus occidentalis californicus, pelican, plumage, preen, preen gland, preen oil, preening, seabird, seabird behavior, uropygial gland, usa, vertebrata, vertebrate, wildlife
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