The Yellow Variant, or Morph, of the California Brown Pelican
I have noticed quite a few brown pelicans sporting yellow gular pouches (throats). As everyone knows, the gular pouch expands to catch water and prey, as much as three times the volume of the pelican’s stomach. Not only is the gular pouch critical to the foraging ability of the bird, but it’s coloration serves a social purpose. In winter California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) adopt a brilliant winter breeding plumage, most notable of which is red and olive green coloration of the gular pouch. But among the brown pelicans around here I have noticed more than a few with yellow instead of red. What causes that color? Are they juveniles, or non-breeding adults? Is this simply a common trait I have not noticed before? Is this some sort of regularly-occurring variant or morph? Honestly, I don’t know. And not being much of a birder or biologist I may never learn the story behind it. However, it is interesting to observe these yellow-throated brown pelicans, and cool to see both yellow and red together. Here are a few images I have made of them recently. The first image shows how distinctly different the red and yellow versions are.
Two California brown pelicans mock jousting, displaying vividly-colored throat skin and mating plumage.
Image ID: 36703
Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
Brown pelican preening, cleaning its feathers after foraging on the ocean, with distinctive winter breeding plumage with distinctive dark brown nape, yellow head feathers, although this one displays a yellow (rather than the usual red) gular throat pouch.
Image ID: 36683
Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
Yellow Morph California Brown Pelican Portrait, note the distinctive winter mating plumage but the unusual yellow throat, La Jolla, California.
Image ID: 37433
California Brown Pelican head throw, stretching its throat to keep it flexible and healthy.
Image ID: 36692
Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
A brown pelican preening, reaching with its beak to the uropygial gland (preen gland) near the base of its tail. Preen oil from the uropygial gland is spread by the pelican's beak and back of its head to all other feathers on the pelican, helping to keep them water resistant and dry.
Image ID: 36844
Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
Yellow Morph California Brown Pelican Portrait, note the distinctive winter mating plumage but the unusual yellow throat and near-absence of yellow feathers on the head.
Image ID: 37557
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
California Brown pelican in flight, soaring along sea cliffs above the ocean in La Jolla, California.
Image ID: 37813
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
Yellow Morph California Brown Pelican Portrait, note the distinctive winter mating plumage but the unusual yellow throat.
Image ID: 37818
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
Yellow morph of the California brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. In winter months, breeding adults assume a dramatic plumage.
Image ID: 15371
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
California brown pelican orange morph, preening its feathers while on cliffs over the ocean. While this adult brown pelican exhibits the brown hind neck of a breeding adult, it displays an unusual orange throat rather than the more typical red.
Image ID: 38688
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
California brown pelican breeding plumage portrait. While this adult brown pelican exhibits the brown hind neck of a breeding adult, it displays an unusual yellow throat rather than the more typical red throat.
Image ID: 38670
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
