Pelicans in Illinois: A Comprehensive Guide
Pelicans are a family of large waterbirds known for their unique features, including their enormous bills and throat pouches. In this article, we will explore the species of pelicans found in Illinois, their physical characteristics, breeding behaviors, diet, habitat, and unique features.
Species of Pelican in Illinois
There are two species of pelicans that can be found in Illinois, the
American White Pelican, and the Brown Pelican. The
American White Pelican is a year-round resident in the state, with an estimated 1% of checklists indicating sightings.
The Brown Pelican, on the other hand, is a rare, accidental species in Illinois that is mostly found along the Gulf of Mexico.
Physical Characteristics of Pelicans
Pelicans are unmistakable birds, with their large size and distinctive bill and pouch. They have a wingspan that can reach up to nine feet, making them one of the largest bird species in North America.
Pelicans have long, straight bills that can grow up to 18 inches. Their bills have a curved hook at the end, which is used for catching prey.
They also have a throat pouch that can stretch to hold up to three gallons of water and fish. Their feet are webbed, and they have large wings, which they use for gliding and soaring.
Breeding Behavior of Pelicans
Pelicans are colonial nesters that form large breeding colonies. They can nest both on the ground and in trees and often form creches where the chicks are left alone for protection while their parents scavenge for food.
Pelicans have a unique way of recognizing their chicks by their calls, and they are known to engage in siblicide, where the older chick will attack and often kill the younger sibling for food.
Diet of Pelicans
Pelicans are opportunistic feeders, and their diet varies depending on their location and the availability of food. Generally, they feed on fish, crabs, frogs, snakes, mammals, and birds.
They use their bills to scoop up prey and store it in their throat pouch for later consumption.
Habitat of Pelicans in Illinois
Pelicans can be found in the freshwater lakes and wetlands of Illinois. They prefer to live along the edges of lakes and rivers, and they are occasionally found along the coastlines of bays, inlets, and estuaries.
They are also known to live in shallow water environments where they can forage for food.
American White Pelican
The
American White Pelican is a unique species that can be found year-round in Illinois. Let’s dive in and explore its physical characteristics, breeding behavior, migration and range, diet, and unique features:
All-year Presence in Illinois
The
American White Pelican is a year-round resident of Illinois, and it can be found in most of the state’s large bodies of water. According to surveys, they are present in approximately 1% of all bird checklists in the state.
Physical Characteristics of
American White Pelican
The
American White Pelican is a large bird, with white feathers and black flight feathers, giving them a stark contrast. They have bluish-gray eyes, yellow facial skin, and pale orange bills, pouches, and feet.
During breeding season, a yellow plate appears on the upper bill, and their feathers turn a light grayish-brown color. After breeding, they undergo a molting eclipse, where they lose all their feathers and become flightless for about a month.
Breeding Behavior of
American White Pelican
The
American White Pelican is a monogamous bird and forms pair bonds during the breeding season. They build simple, shallow nests made of twigs and vegetation.
The female will lay two eggs, and both parents take turns incubating the eggs for around 29-36 days. Chicks usually fledge in around 70-75 days after hatching.
They are also known to engage in siblicide like other pelican species.
Migration and Range of
American White Pelican
In the winter months,
American White Pelicans can be found in the southern Pacific Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as in Mexico and Central America.
During summer months, they migrate to the western US and Central US where they breed. Diet of
American White Pelican
American White Pelicans primarily feed on fish, crayfish, amphibians, and salamanders. They are surface feeders and are known to engage in coordinated foraging, where they encircle schools of fish and scoop them up in their bills.
Unique Features of
American White Pelican
American White Pelicans have several unique features, including air pockets in their bones that make them lighter and enable them to float on the surface of the water. They also have a throat sac or pouch which they use for catching fish and carrying water over long distances.
The sac can hold up to 3 gallons of water or fish, which is then drained out of the pouch and swallowed whole.
Conclusion
In conclusion, pelicans are fascinating birds with unique features and behaviors. While they might not be the most common sighting in Illinois, the
American White Pelican is a year-round resident in the state and can be seen in various bodies of water.
Whether you are bird watching or just out for a walk, keep an eye out for these incredible birds, and you might just catch a glimpse of their impressive hunting skills or unique features in action. Brown Pelican: The Rare Sight in Illinois
The Brown Pelican is a majestic coastal bird known for its unique diving and foraging skills.
With its partially webbed feet, it dives into the water headfirst to catch prey, which is then stored in its expandable throat pouch. In this article, we’ll explore the Brown Pelican’s physical characteristics, range and habitat, foraging behaviors, and unique features that make this bird vulnerable to external factors.
The Rarity of Sightings in Illinois
The Brown Pelican is a rarity in Illinois, with very few sightings recorded other than occasional accidental sightings reported in the Harrisburg Lake area. This is because their primary habitat is coastal areas, and Illinois is not close to any ocean.
Physical Characteristics of Brown Pelican
The Brown Pelican has a unique physical appearance that sets it apart from other pelican species. They have white heads, pale yellow-orange bills, and yellow foreheads.
Their bodies are grayish-brown, with short black legs and webbed feet. During breeding season, their heads turn a darker brown, and they develop a light brown underside.
They also have brown wings with distinct patterns of white and black, making them distinctive from other birds.
Types and Breeding Behavior of Brown Pelican
The Brown Pelican has five subspecies, with the Pacific Coast and Atlantic Coast variants being the most common. During the breeding season, their feathers change color, which signals their readiness to mate to other birds.
The female lays two to three eggs, and both parents take turns incubating the eggs for around 28-30 days. What makes their incubation practice unique is that they use their webbed feet to regulate the temperature of the eggs, which is a crucial aspect of their breeding process.
Range and Habitat of Brown Pelican
The Brown Pelican can be found along the Pacific and Atlantic coastlines, as well as in northern South America. They prefer shallow water environments, estuaries, coastal marine habitats, mangrove islets, sandbars, breakwaters, and offshore rocks.
During the non-breeding season, they migrate to central and South America, staying mainly close to the coastline.
Diet and Foraging Ability of Brown Pelican
The Brown Pelican is an excellent diver and forager, thanks to its unique physical features. It feeds primarily on fish such as sardines and herring, crustaceans, amphibians, and eggs.
When hunting for fish, the pelican spots a school of fish from above and dives headfirst into the water with its bill open, trapping the fish inside its expandable throat pouch. Once it has caught enough prey, it raises its head up to let the water drain out of its pouch before swallowing the fish whole.
Unique Features and Threats to Brown Pelican
Brown Pelicans have a unique set of features that sets them apart from other birds. They have partially webbed feet that enable them to swim and regulate the temperature of their eggs during the breeding season.
The pelican’s throat pouch is also a unique physical characteristic that allows it to store a large amount of prey before draining the water out.
Despite their resilient nature, Brown Pelicans are vulnerable to external factors like pollution and eggshell thinning, which poses a threat to their survival.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Brown Pelican populations were severely affected by the use of the pesticide DDT. The chemical was found to cause thinning of the eggshells, which led to the eggs breaking before hatching.
In the United States and worldwide, DDT was banned in the 1970s, allowing Brown Pelicans to recover their populations gradually.
In conclusion, Brown Pelicans are unique and fascinating birds with numerous unique features that set them apart from other species.
Although rare in Illinois, they are found in coastal areas and estuaries worldwide. Their foraging and diving ability, paired with their unique features and breeding practices, contribute significantly to their resilience.
However, they remain vulnerable to external threats like pollution and exposure to pesticides like DDT, stressing the need for continued conservation efforts. In conclusion, this article has provided an in-depth overview of pelicans in Illinois, including the physical characteristics, breeding behavior, diet, and habitat of the
American White Pelican and the Brown Pelican.
While the Brown Pelican is a rare species in Illinois, it is crucial to understand its unique features and vulnerabilities to conserve the species. By preserving their habitats and raising awareness about their significance, we can help ensure that pelicans continue to thrive in the wild.
FAQs:
1. What are the unique features of pelicans?
Pelicans have large bills for catching prey, throat pouches for storing food and water, and partially webbed feet for swimming and regulating egg temperature.
2.
What do pelicans eat? Pelicans are opportunistic feeders, and their diets include fish, crabs, frogs, snakes, mammals, and birds.
3. Where do pelicans live?
Pelicans are often found in freshwater lakes, wetlands, estuaries, and coastal marine habitats worldwide.
4.
What is siblicide? Siblicide occurs when the older chick of pelican species attacks and often kills the younger sibling for food.
5. Why are Brown Pelicans rare in Illinois?
The Brown Pelican’s primary habitat is coastal areas, and Illinois is not close to any ocean. Thus, they are only rare, accidental sightings.
6. What unique feature helps Brown Pelicans dive and catch prey?
Brown Pelicans have an expandable throat pouch that allows them to store fish and drain water before swallowing their prey. 7.
What threats are Brown Pelicans vulnerable to? Brown Pelicans are vulnerable to external factors such as pollution and eggshell thinning from the chemicals like DDT.
8. Why are pelicans important?
Pelicans play significant ecological roles by regulating fish populations and recycling nutrients, ensuring the health of their habitats and the larger ecosystems of which they are part.