Breeding on lakes throughout the northern Great Plains and mountain West, the American White Pelican is one of the largest birds in North America. It winters along the coasts, but breeds only inland.
The White Pelican does not dive for fish as the Brown Pelican does. Instead, it dips its head underwater to scoop up fish. Several pelicans may fish cooperatively, moving into a circle to concentrate fish, and then dipping their heads under simultaneously to catch fish.
Bibliographic Citation: "American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)." The Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds.
Citation Link Accessed 27 Jan 2014.
