White Pelican

American White Pelicans have beautiful black feathers that are only visible when they unfurl their wings. While their body is squat, their wings can span 9 feet! Look at the top of the bill of this bird and you can see a plate or "horn" forming. After breeding and laying eggs, this will fall off.

This was taken at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center in Port Aransas, Texas. (Nikon Z5, 1/500 sec at f/7.1, ISO 100, 400mm)


White pelicans soar high,
Over Gulf waters they glide,
Texas coast in sight.

~ A haiku by ChatGPT