Peruvian Pelican
Pelecanus thagus
Huge brown pelican of the Humboldt Current; locally common along the coast and over inshore waters. Often seen perched on rocks, jetties, and scavenging at fishing harbors. Feeds by plunge diving from low heights, often with masses of other feeding birds such as cormorants, boobies, and terns. Distinctive in south of range, but in north occurs with appreciably smaller Brown Pelican, which lacks the big whitish upperwing panel of Peruvian, has a less colorful bill without a yellow base (on adults), and lacks the turquoise-blue pouch seen on Peruvian Pelican.
Identification
These birds are dark in colour with a white stripe from the top of the bill up to the crown and down the sides of the neck. They have long tufted feathers on the top of their heads. It was previously considered a subspecies of the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis). The Peruvian pelican is considerably larger, ranging from about 5 to 7 kg (11–15 lb) in weight, 137 to 152 cm (4.5–5.0 ft) in length and with a wingspan of about 228 cm (7.5 ft). Compared to the brown pelican, it also has proportionally longer crest feathers, as well as differences in the colours of the gular pouch, beak, scapulars and greater wing coverts.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pelecanus thagus
- Authority
- Molina, 1782
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Family
- Pelecanidae
- Genus
- Pelecanus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
The main breeding season occurs from September to March. Clutch size is usually two or three eggs. Eggs are incubated for approximately 4 to 5 weeks, with the rearing period lasting about 3 months.<p>Breeding occurs in large coastal colonies.<p>Peruvian pelicans feed on several species of fish. Unlike the brown pelican, they never dive from a great height to catch its food, instead diving from a shallow height or feeding while swimming on the surface. On occasion they may take other food items, such as nestling of imperial shags, young Peruvian diving petrels, gray gulls and cannibalize unrelated chicks of their own species. They also feed on pelagic species such as anchovies. In fact, those in the northern Humboldt Current System feed almost exclusively on one species, the Peruvian anchoveta.<p>The birds feed around cold-water upwellings, being found along the Humboldt Current.
Conservation
Its status was first evaluated for the IUCN Red List in 2008, being listed as Near threatened. Its status was reassessed in 2018, and it was again listed as Near threatened, but with increasing population.<p>One factor affecting their status may be competition with fishing industries for anchovies, a primary food source for the species.
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Tawny-backed Fantail
Rhipidura superflua
A small brown songbird with a long tail that is often cocked and regularly fanned. Rich rufous on the back and rump, with a contrastingly darker pale-tipped tail. Has a brown head with a buff brow, a white throat bordered with a black necklace, and pale buff underparts. Singles and pairs can be found in forest in the foothills and mountains, often within mixed-species flocks. Distinctive in its limited range on Buru, where it is the only brown-backed fantail. Song a high-pitched series of six or more descending whistles. Call is a metallic “tew.”
Spot-throat
Modulatrix stictigula
Supreme understory skulker in montane forest, resembling a hybrid between a thrush and babbler. A dull but distinctive-looking bird if seen well, with brown-olive upperparts and rusty underparts, a bold dull blue-gray eye-ring and black-speckled tawny throat. The bill is dark on top and pale underneath. Immature is paler, lacking the spotted throat. Singles or pairs are highly localized residents flicking through leaf litter or following ants in undergrowth of Eastern Arc montane forest, between 900–2700m; shy and hops or runs quickly across the forest-floor, seldom permitting absorbing looks. Thrush-like song is a varied but distinctive shrill series of whistles and slurs. Calls include a single upslurred sweet “seeuuuiit”, and a scratchy “werrrt” in alarm.
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinus
Small yellowish finch with prominent wingbars. Male is attractive and distinctive, with a yellow face and breast offset by a black cap and small chin patch. Female streaky overall, often with yellowish tones; note especially the yellow wing and tail flashes of both sexes. Inhabits mixed and coniferous woodland and forest; also found in parks and gardens, and visits seed feeders. Often in flocks, mainly in the autumn and winter, gathering at good food sources. Listen for twittering, buzzing vocalizations, including nasal, rising “tuohweee” and dry chittering.
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