American White Pelicans Return to Tampa Bay
American white pelicans are a show-stopper for nearly everyone who sees them when they return to Tampa Bay in the late fall.
They are clearly related to the native brown pelican, but their enormous size, stark-white plumage, and tendency to travel in large flocks make them a unique sight.
Physical Characteristics
Weighing up to 30 pounds with wingspans extending up to nine feet, white pelicans are among the largest birds native to North America.
Habitat and Migration
They nest in colonies of 5,000 birds near brackish or freshwater lakes in isolated areas from Manitoba, Canada, and Minnesota west to northern California.
Most populations migrate southeast and southwest to bays and estuaries in coastal lowlands for the winter, while some nonbreeding populations remain in those coastal areas, especially in Florida.
Hunting Behavior
Unlike brown pelicans, which capture prey by diving into the water, white pelicans are more likely to “herd” fish.
They are a show-stopper for nearly everyone who sees them when they return to Tampa Bay in the late fall.
Author's summary: American white pelicans migrate to Tampa Bay in the fall, bringing their unique size and behavior.