Chilean name: Pelícano
November 2005
The Peruvian Pelican is distributed along the coasts of Peru and Chile except in the far south.
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| Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus thagus Chilean name: Pelícano |
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Chile November 2005 The Peruvian Pelican is distributed along the coasts of Peru and Chile except in the far south. |
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It is associated with the Humboldt Current and was one of the 3 species responsible for the guano industry which was of such importance in the 19th and early 20th century. The other "guano" birds are Peruvian Booby Sula variegata and Guanay Cormorant Phalacrocorax bougainvillii. | |||
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Many authorities classify the Peruvian Pelican as a sub-species of Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis, but others such as Ridgely & Greenfield and Jaramillo give it species status on the basis of its larger size, slightly different colouration and more pelagic habits. | |||
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Two of the distinguishing features of the Peruvian Pelican compared to the Brown is its whiter panel on the upper wing and its more vivid bill colouring during breeding. | |||
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