tags: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, photographed at Bolivar Peninsula, Galveston County, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 8 April 2010 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/500s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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That looks to be a brown pelican. It is the only pelican species with overall dark coloration.
That looks to be a brown pelican. It is the only pelican species with overall dark coloration, and the only one that lives near the ocean.
Uhm. I was gonna say, "It's a pelican. It's brown. Could it be a Brown Pelican?" But I figured that'd be too easy, and it's some sort of escaped exotic or something. Although I don't know of any other pelican species with overall brown colouration.
I also think this is a pelican, but have no further idea. (See, sometimes I can tell the difference between a bird and a brick!) But I want to know is: Where's the Guinness?
Nice shot! Lovely lighting, good blurry background that looks quite nautical, which is always important for a typical picture of this species. The only thing that could make it better is if were standing on a pier post.
Wrong species, blf. That bird would have a Caffreys.
P.S. Grrl has the perfect mystery bird for you - I've been trying to persuade her to use it, but no luck yet.
This is a Buster Brown Pelican.