With a nine-foot wingspan, they are some of the largest birds in North America.

Migrating American white pelicans, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, have returned to Florida for the winter. With a nine-foot wingspan, the birds soar gracefully, forming a V when they ride the air thermals high above. White pelicans migrate both east and west of the Rocky Mountains. These Florida snowbirds likely breed in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan or Canada and migrate here along the Mississippi River valley.

Their plumage is white except for their rigid black wing feathers, visible primarily in flight. Unlike the brown pelican, the American white pelican does not dive for fish. Groups of American white pelicans swim in a circle to corral fish, dip their heads underwater, and then scoop about four pounds of food a day into their orange pouches.

Contrary to cartoon depictions, pelicans do not carry food in their bill pouches. They drain the water from their pouch and swallow their prey before taking off. As opportunistic eaters, they may try to grab fish from fishermen and fishing boats, and sometimes get injured in the process. During the winter months, the Wildlife Center of Venice and the Peace River Wildlife Center report increased numbers of pelicans require rehabilitation from fishing injuries, and from ingesting large fish bone scraps which puncture them.

In addition to feeding cooperatively, these birds nest in huge colonies with up to 5,000 pairs per site in some parts of Canada, and they migrate in large flocks.

Males are slightly heavier than females, although both are plump, weighing more than 16 pounds. They are one of the largest birds on the continent, and crowd together on sand bars in shallow Florida waters, sharing space with brown pelicans, cormorants, terns and vultures. Generally, these immense snowbirds get along well with resident birds, although they occasionally practice kleptoparasitism, a foraging strategy that involves stealing fish from other pelicans, gulls or cormorants.

American white pelicans mate for life, and both sexes develop a big bump on their upper bill during breeding season. This bill horn is shed after their eggs are laid. They engage in courtship rituals, such as bowing, strutting and touching bills, and share parenting duties.

Because pelicans regurgitate food for their chicks, a legend may have begun when a pelican’s white breast was stained from regurgitating a bloody fish. This legend describes a pelican mother piercing her breast to feed her own blood to her chicks. Thus, early Christians used the pelican to symbolize Christ’s sacrifice, and the image of a pelican feeding baby pelicans can be found on Christian altars in some Catholic churches. In many cultures, these birds symbolize peace and good luck.