The American white pelican’s average weight is 15.4 pounds, with a range of 11 to 20 pounds, average wingspan is 96 to 120 inches (8 to 10 feet)

American White Pelican

The American white pelican is a conspicuous all white bird with black coloration of the primary and secondary remiges, visible in flight. The large body size and the large yellow/orange bill (10 to 15 inches) and pouch give this bird a distinctive appearance. Its graceful flight—singularly or in flocks—and their cooperative foraging behavior make watching this bird mesmerizing. They are found in shallow inland marshes, lakes or rivers.

The Pyrrhuloxia’s average weight is 1.3 ounces, average wingspan is 11.25 inches

Pyrrhuloxia

Pyrrhuloxia is a desert-dwelling cardinal who is a permanent resident of the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico. It is not a known bird in the Denver area. One male, however, was sighted in February 2022 in a residential area near Lakewood. According to eBird.org, a website that records rare bird sightings, the pyrrhuloxia has been spotted in several southern Colorado counties including: Park, Las Aminas, La Plata and Prowers dating back to 1989. No previous sightings of this species have been reported in the Denver area.

The pyrrhuloxia, commonly referred to as the “desert cardinal” looks much like a northern cardinal but with a longer and thinner crest and more rounded yellowish bill. Plumage is mostly gray with red highlights on the face, crest, belly, wings and tail.

Photos and information generously donated by George Ho

Bird Walks April 2 and May 7, 8 –10am. Join George Ho and other bird experts for a free guided walk around Bluff Lake. All are welcome. Bring your own binoculars or use one of our pairs. 11255 MLK Blvd. BluffLake.org. Search FrontPorchNE.com for “Bird Sightings” to see all the past bird stories and photos from George Ho.