| Pocas aves marinas nos entretienen tanto como ésta que es igual de torpe que gracil. Existen siete especies de Pelicano a nivel mundial, y el Pardo es la más pequeña, aunque sigue siendo un ave grande. Llega a medir hasta 2.5 m entre punta y punta de sus alas y a pesar hasta 5.5 kg. Su distintivo es una gran bolsa bajo el pico. Son aves sociales que anidan juntas y comúnmente vuelan en formación de V. Captura su alimento desplomándose desde alturas de hasta 20 metros y estrellándose contra el agua para recoger su presa en su bolsa. Para protegerse del impacto de sus clavados, el Pelícano Pardo tiene unas bolsas de aire bajo la piel que absorben el golpe. Éste es el único pelicano que pesca de esta manera. A lo largo del Caribe Mexicano anidan entre manglares, aunque en otros lados prefieren acantilados. Macho y hembra comparten la responsabilidad de incubar los huevos y proteger a sus crías. Estas tienen la cabeza obscura, mientras que los adultos tienen la cabeza blanca. Llegan a vivir hasta 25 años en libertad, y hasta 50 en cautiverio. |
Pelicano Pardo
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
| By turns as awkward as it is graceful, few sea birds are as fascinating to watch as the Brown Pelican. There are seven species of Pelican worldwide, and the Brown is the smallest, though by any other measure it is still a rather large bird. Its wingspan can reach up to 2.5 m, and they can weigh up to 5.5 kg. Their most distinguishing feature is the large pouch beneath the beak. These are social birds that nest together and are often seen flying in V-formations. They catch fish by crash-diving into the water from heights of up to 20 meters, scooping up fish in their pouches. To protect them from the impact of constantly slamming into the water, Brown Pelicans have special air pockets beneath the skin that act as shock absorbers. The Brown is the only pelican to dive for its prey. Along this coast, they nest primarily among mangroves, though in other locations they may prefer rocky cliffs. Both males and females incubate their eggs, and feed their young. Juveniles have a dark head, while adults have a white head. Their lifespan is around 25 years in the wild, and upwards of 50 years in captivity. |
| Photos and text by David Nuñez |
| Recomendamos estos libros sobre la Fauna de México. (Los nuestros son bilingues.) |
| To learn more about the Wildlife of Mexico, we recommend the following books. |
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