caruncle – Mia McPherson's On The Wing Photography

American White Pelican In Low Light

By Mia McPherson|April 10th, 2022|Categories: American White Pelicans, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American White Pelican, breeding plumage, caruncle, drought-tolerant plants, Great Salt Lake, Gunnison Island, horn, lake level, native, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, pelican, pelicans, pond, spring, standing, urban, water, xeriscaping|

I am enjoying seeing the birds that have returned to breed in Utah including this American White Pelican I photographed in low light two days ago at a local pond.

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American White Pelican In Bright Morning Light

By Mia McPherson|March 22nd, 2022|Categories: American White Pelicans, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American White Pelican, breeding plumage, bright, caruncle, horn, morning light, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, pelican, pelicans, pond, reflection, urban, water, winter|

I have a lot going on right now so this morning I'm only sharing one image of an adult American White Pelican in bright morning light taken five days ago.

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American White Pelican in Definitive Alternate Plumage aka Breeding Plumage

By Mia McPherson|April 23rd, 2018|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: adult, American White Pelican, blue eyes, caruncle, Definitive Alternate Plumage, epidermal plate, horn, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, pelican, pelicans, sexual ornamentation, spring, upper mandible|

Yesterday was my first opportunity this year to be able to take quality images of American White Pelicans in Definitive Alternate Plumage or as it is better known, breeding plumage.

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American White Pelicans – PeliCam and PeliTrack

By Mia McPherson|March 26th, 2017|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American White Pelican, beak, bill, breeding colony, breeding season, caruncle, climate change, epidermal plate, flight, flock, fluffed up, flying, Great Salt Lake Institute, Gunnison Island, horn, nesting birds, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, Pelicam, pelican, pelicans, PeliTrack, pond, ridge, sky, soaring, Tracy Aviary, water, Westminster|

American White Pelicans are returning to their breeding grounds in Utah and I have already seen a few of them myself and though I haven't been able to photograph them yet I know I will soon.

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American White Pelican stretching

By Mia McPherson|October 21st, 2014|Categories: American White Pelicans, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American White Pelican, breeding plumage, caruncle, horn, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, pelican, pelicans, pond, stretching, water|

The caruncle or horn is a growth on the bill of American White Pelicans that occurs yearly during the breeding season.

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An American White Pelican “horn”

By Mia McPherson|November 12th, 2013|Categories: American White Pelicans, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, breeding plumage, caruncle, horn, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, pelican, pelicans, pond, spring, stretching, urban, water, white pelicans|

The horn is a growth on the bill of American White Pelicans that occurs during the breeding season and I am fortunate to live in a location where these big, white pelicans breed.

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American White Pelican lifting off

By Mia McPherson|October 19th, 2013|Categories: American White Pelicans, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, caruncle, flight, flying, lift off, lifting off, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, pelican, pelicans, pond, take off, taking off, water, white pelicans|

This American White Pelican was taking off from a pond near where I live in Salt Lake County and I happened to click the shutter when its wings were extended upwards and when its feet had just slapped the water

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