Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2017-32
| Common name: |
Brown Pelican |
| Scientific name: | Pelecanus occidentalis |
| Date: | 5/18/2017 |
| Time: | 9:10 am |
| Length of time observed: | 7 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Unknown |
| Sex: | Unknown |
| Location: | Gunnison Island, Great Salt Lake, Utah |
| County: | Box Elder |
| Latilong: | 41.335138, -112.854639 |
| Elevation: | 4,212 |
| Distance to bird: | 500-800 feet |
| Optical equipment: | Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 35-350 mm zoom lens |
| Weather: | Patchy clouds; 25.66 Inch Hg; 42 Fahrenheit; 7 mph wind; |
| Light Conditions: | 387 Watts/square meter |
| Description: Size of bird: | Big but not as big as nearby American white pelicans |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Long bill, round body |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Brown/dark body, white head |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Huge, ~1 foot |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Identified brown pelican from photos taken during an aerial census of the
Gunnison Island American white pelican colony. The brown pelican was not seen at
the time the photos were taken. Bird is dead, but recognized from photo. I've
seen lots of dead American white pelicans of all age classes, and the brown
pelican is in a typical dead position lying on its belly with wings splayed and
head and neck flopped to the side. Body, wings and back of neck are all
dark/brown. The only white feathers that are visible are on the top of the head.
The gullar pouch appears whitish or gray. Descriptive characteristics are based on the photos taken. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | NA |
| Behavior: | Dead |
| Habitat: | Island nesting colony for American white pelicans, California gulls, and great blue herons. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
American white pelican is an all white pelican though black secondaries and primaries may be visible when wing is tucked. Brown pelican is all brown/dark with white only on top head. Back of neck is brown/dark. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I've seen many brown pelicans on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America during numerous trips. I work extensively with American white pelicans doing bird surveys, banding juveniles, and trapping adults. |
| References consulted: | https://www.allaboutbirds.org/ |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | John Neill |
| Observer's address: | 4790 S. 7500 W. |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 5/23/2017 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |