Posted by John Boyd on January 29, 2003 at 18:59:40:
In Reply to: Brown Pelican w/red throat pouch posted by Brennan Mulrooney on January 28, 2003 at 17:20:18:
I don't recall seeing this in Florida birds, but I could have overlooked it. I checked some photos I took of breeding plumaged Brown Pelicans a few years ago, and they show a dark brown pouch. Of course, the back of the neck is a deep reddish brown (brownish-red?).
: Yesterday while working in Florida Bay near Flamingo, I saw an adult, breeding plumage Brown Pelican with a bright red gular pouch.
: I must admit that I don't usually pay much attention to the Pelicans and probably wouldn't even have noticed this one if the guy with me (not a birder) hadn't pointed it out. I'm used to seeing them like that in CA, so it didn't strike me as odd, but it certainly caught his attention.
: Anybody know if this is a regular occurence in Eastern Brown Pelicans? Now that I'm looking, I haven't seen another one.
: Thanks,
: Brennan
: PS the Flamingo at Flamingo was still there yesterday.