Brown pelican preening, Pelecanus occidentalis, #20033

Brown pelican preening. 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. Adult winter non-breeding plumage showing white hindneck and red gular throat pouch. La Jolla, California, USA, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, natural history stock photograph, photo id 20033
Brown pelican preening. 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. Adult winter non-breeding plumage showing white hindneck and red gular throat pouch. La Jolla, California, USA

Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 20033
Format: Digital 2:3
Keywords: adult, animal, animalia, aves, bird, breeding, brown pelican, california, california brown pelican, chordata, coloration, endangered, endangered threatened species, feather, la jolla, la jolla pelicans, mating, occidentalis, pelecanidae, pelecaniform, pelecaniformes, pelecanus, pelecanus occidentalis, pelecanus occidentalis californicus, pelican, plumage, preen, preen gland, preen oil, preening, san diego, seabird, seabird behavior, threatened, uropygial gland, usa, vertebrata, vertebrate
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