Peruvian Pelicans

By turns magnificent and comic, the Peruvian Pelican, Pelecanus thagus, is one of three New World pelican species. It breeds along the coast of Peru and Chile. Chiloé is the extreme south of its non-breeding range, and populations there are increasing, though not yet breeding.

These are huge birds, with wingspans well over 2m (78in). They live only on the coasts, and eat mainly Peruvian Anchovies, often heading out to fish at night. But they can eat other things: well-grown chicks have been know to eat smaller (unrelated!) ones.  They seem to be sociable birds, usually in small groups, like these ones preening and drying their wings.

They mingle with other birds, such as gulls, Kelp Geese, Magellanic Penguins, steamer ducks (back left below), and cormorants.

These gulls are fighting over a fish, while the pelicans stand by, aloof and patrician.

The red bill and blue gular pouch are quite distinctive:*

This one was heading out to sea, taking a running jump:

For the photographer, they’re a gift. Even from a bobbing boat you can take their portraits.

PS They have been in this part of the world for a long time, and were represented in rock art in northern Chile between 1,700 BC and 1,000 AD. Overall populations have been adversely affected by El Niño fluctuations, and a reduction in food stocks, especially anchovies. The IUCN classifies it as Near Threatened.

* A favorite children’s book comes to mind, Roald Dahl’s The Giraffe, the Pelly, and Me, in which the pelican’s gular pouch carries the water for the monkey’s window-washing business: