Louisiana Coloring Book Page 4
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18State Bird: Brown Pelican
Illustrated by:
Jonathan Williams
(Act 457) The brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) became Louisiana's
official bird on July 27, 1966. It nests from South Carolina to Brazil. Pelicans are
famous for their large bill, the lower portion of which has a pouch which may be
greatly extended.
The birds, depending almost entirely on fish for food, scoop up quantities of
water into their pouches as they seize prey from salt water. As the bill is
elevated the water dribbles from the mandibles, and the pouch contracts as fish
are swallowed. Five pounds of fish a day is the average consumption of a one-
month old pelican.
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