OLogy Cards > brown pelican

This large dark bird is unmistakable soaring in the air along the coast. With about a seven-foot wingspan, it flies gracefully above the water, then dives into the sea with a clumsy splash, searching for its next meal. But the brown pelican is even more noticeable perched on a pier: its long bill is typically as big as (if not bigger than) its head. The most recognizable feature of this bird is the bulging pouch that hangs under its bill.