General Description: American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) are very large birds (wingspan to over 9 feet) with an enormous bill and stretchy skin at the base of the bill that can expand to form a pouch when feeding. White Pelicans are white overall with black wingtips and black on the trailing edge of the wings. In adults, bill is yellow. In juveniles, the bill is dark. During the breeding season, adults grow a keel on the top of the bill. Compare with Brown Pelicans.

Taxonomy: Pelecaniformes, Pelecanidae

Favored Habitat: Lakes and rivers, also coastal areas.

Where to Find: Around Las Vegas, look for American White Pelicans at Lake Mead during fall and winter. Sometimes they show up at Sunset Park and in the Duck Creek area.

Comments: White Pelicans feed by dipping their long bill into the water to scoop up fish. In contrast, Brown Pelicans generally feed by diving head-first into the water, although Brown Pelicans sometimes dip their bills too.

A banded pelican was resident at Sunset Park throughout 2013. Bird "UT-12 69G" was banded in Utah in 2012. I first photographed it at Sunset Park January 8, 2013, and the bird remained in the park all summer and was last seen on December 5, 2013.