The Peruvian pelican grows twice the size of the brown pelican, reaching a length of 4.5-5 feet and weighing up to 15 pounds!

Peruvian pelicans have darker plumage with varying shades of grey and a white stripe from the top of their bill up to the head and down the sides of their neck. Their bill is brightly colored similar to the brown pelican’s with a red tip and blue gular pouch.

The Peruvian pelican dives at shallow depths to catch prey. They are well adapted for their safety, but one wrong move can result in broken bones or death. Since the Peruvian pelican hits the water so hard to stun their prey, the muscles around their neck stiffen to protect its spine, their straight-back wings defend against waves, and they even have air sacs under their skin around their neck that act like an airbag before the pelican meets the water.

The Peruvian pelican is part of the Pelecanus family and can be found on the west coast of South America in places such as Ecuador, Chile, and Peru.

Adult Peruvian pelicans feed on a variety of fish by diving into the shallow parts of water or, occasionally, stealing food from other birds. Their gular sac is used as a fishing net and can hold several gallons of water as the sac is highly flexible. After catching a fish, the pelican will immediately purge the water and swallow their prey whole.

Peruvian pelicans come together for the breeding season in September through March. After mating, the female will lay 2-3 eggs that will hatch in about 5 weeks. Both parents will care for the chicks for up to 3 months, taking turns regurgitating food into the chicks’ mouths.

The Peruvian pelican used to be considered a subspecies of the brown pelican but is now a standalone species.