NSIS: Florida's Common Waterbirds

Photographs on this page courtesy of SFWMD

The winter resident population of the American White Pelican varies from year to year. It is found along the coast and sometimes at large inland lakes. Flocks forage by swimming together and herding fish.

The Brown Pelican is most frequently seen along the coasts of the peninsula. It is also a resident of the panhandle, but less common during the winter. They are increasingly seen at large inland lakes.

It forages by soaring over the water and diving. It also waits at fishing piers and boat docks for handouts.

Brown Pelicans nest in colonies, usually on mangrove islands although breeding has been reported at Lake Okeechobee.

Although the Brown Pelican has made significant strides from population lows in the 1960's and 1970's when some states' populations were virtually wiped out by pesticide contamination, it remains a species of special concern. In addition to habitat loss, fishing hooks and line cause many injuries and fatalities.

name	area	season	diet/native food plants
American White Pelican	N CS	SpFW SpSuFW	fish*
Brown Pelican	NCS	SpSuFW-B	fish*
N=north C=central S=south Sp=spring Su=summer F=fall W=winter B=breeds in Florida during season(s) underlined M=Migrant

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