Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
The smallest of the eight species of pelican, adult brown pelicans have a grayish-brown body with a darker underbelly and white head and neck. During breeding season the back part of the neck becomes deep chestnut and a yellow patch appears at the base of the front of the neck. Eyes are very light blue with pink eyerings. From that description, you can tell that the pelican on the left is breeding and the one on the right is not. The pelican on the left was seen in Citrus County, Florida.
The Brown Pelicans are such a delight to watch and photograph that I find I use them quite often in my Greeting Card collection. This young, immature Brown Pelican to the left was having such a good time the afternoon I was taking his picture that I chose to put him on a series of Birthday cards for young children.
The pelican above right and the one standing on the post in the image to the left were taken at Cedar Key, Florida.
The pelican on the post is between not yet three years old because that is the age when they develop the white on top of their heads.