The pelican is in the Pelecanidae family which includes Pelicans, Cormorants, Gannets, etc. We have the American White and Brown Pelicans here in the U.S.
- The White Pelican (62″ with a 108″ wingspan) is larger than the Brown (48″ with a 84″ wingspan).
- They both fly with neck tucked.
- Both have very large bills (White-yellow, Brown-dark) with a throat pouch.
- The Brown Pelican feeds by plunging from air into the water and also glides low over the water.
- The White Pelican feeds while swimming and upending to catch fish.
- The sexes are similar in both White and Brown Pelicans
The pelican is again listed in the “unclean” list.
And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier-eagle,(Leviticus 11:18 KJV)
And the pelican, and the gier-eagle, and the cormorant, (Deuteronomy 14:17 KJV)
This is from Psalm 102 which is a “prayer of the afflicted.” He is telling about a heart smitten, groaning bones, basically he is “out of order.”
I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
(Psalms 102:6 KJV) Most pelicans live near water and owls live in trees.
In spite of his affliction, the Psalm writer concludes with:
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. (Psalms 102:25-27 KJV)What a great promise. It amazes me sometimes when I “birdwatch the Scriptures,” what treasures are associated with them.
Points
Brown Pelicans Dive for their food.
American White Pelicans swim along and feed, upending themselves as they do. This was taken at Lake Hollingsworth.
Photos are by permission of Dan’s Pix and Ray’s Wildlife Photography
Check out my new websites: Lee’s Birdwatching Adventures Plus or >Birds of the Bible
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