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Pelicans have mainly light-coloured plumage, the exceptions being the brown and Peruvian pelicans. [54] The bills, pouches, and bare facial skin of all species become brighter before breeding season commences. [55] The throat pouch of the Californian subspecies of the brown pelican turns bright red, and fades to yellow after the eggs are laid ...
It consists of shoebills, hamerkops, pelicans and their extinct relatives. It is likely the sister clade to herons [ 1 ] [ 2 ] , though it could also be sister to Ardei [ 3 ] References
Brown pelican showing throat pouch. The brown pelican is the smallest of the eight extant pelican species, but is often one of the larger seabirds in their range nonetheless. [15] [16] It measures 1 to 1.52 m (3 ft 3 in to 5 ft 0 in) in length and has a wingspan of 2.03 to 2.28 m (6 ft 8 in to 7 ft 6 in). [6]
The great white pelican is a huge bird—only the Dalmatian pelican is, on average, larger among pelicans. It measures 140 to 180 cm (55 to 71 in) in length [ 6 ] with a 28.9 to 47.1 cm (11.4 to 18.5 in) enormous pink and yellow bill , [ 6 ] and a dull pale-yellow gular pouch.
Among a highly social family in general, Dalmatian pelicans may have the least social inclinations. This species naturally nests in relatively small groups compared to most other pelican species and sometimes may even nest alone. However, small colonies are usually formed, which regularly include upwards of 250 pairs (especially historically).
Overall, the Australian pelican is predominantly white in colour. There is a white panel on the upper-wing and a white-V on the rump set against black along the primaries. During courtship, the orbital skin and distal quarter of the bill are orange-coloured with the pouch variously turning dark blue, pink and scarlet.
Most have a bare throat patch (gular patch), and the nostrils have evolved into dysfunctional slits, forcing them to breathe through their mouths. They also have a pectinate nail on their longest toe. This is shaped like a comb and is used to brush out and separate their feathers. They feed on fish, squid, or similar marine life.
The spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) or gray pelican is a member of the pelican family. It breeds in southern Asia from southern Iran across India east to Indonesia . It is a bird of large inland and coastal waters, especially large lakes.