Birders

Detail of John J. Audubon’s American White Pelican (Plate 311)

''On its beak was a noticeable bump. Of the eight pelican species worldwide, White Pelicans are the only species that have this characteristic (Audubon included it in his illustration).

This bump grows during the mating season on males and females. Once the eggs are laid, the bump falls off. Made of a “fibrous epidermal plate,” these shed “horns” can be found scattered next to their nests.

Unlike our local Brown Pelicans, the American White Pelican isn’t a sky diver. They scoop up fish by dipping their large beak and pouch into the water. They’ll often work as a team, herding fish into shallow areas.''

https://www.coastalexpeditions.com/blog/the-curious-beautiful-white-pelican/