White on black, nearly. With a little color thrown in for effect.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Two days ago I spent the early morning shooting from my tripod at a local pond. Pelicans typically hang out in groups but this one was a loner and ‘he’ allowed me a few, very few, fairly close photos before he swam much further away. It was very soon after sunrise so the soft light cast many dark shadows and reflections on the water which made for some fairly dramatic lighting with a bright white subject.
This shot was my favorite of the dozen or so photos I got before he swam further away.
See that ‘bump’ on the pelican’s upper mandible? It’s called a caruncle or more commonly (and less accurately) a “horn” and of the eight species of pelicans in the world only American White Pelicans have them. The horn is a fibrous, epidermal plate that arises vertically from the bill about one third of the distance from its tip. Its function is poorly understood but it’s “probably involved in courtship or agonistic behavior during pairing and territory establishment”.
Caruncle size is highly variable and both sexes have them (this is an older photo of a different pelican). They grow from the bill prior to the breeding season and fall off shortly after mating and egg laying.
A pelican version of antlers? Not really but there are some similarities.
Ron
Late to the party, Ron, but I really enjoyed this post. Always enjoy seeing Pelicans rising on a thermal, soaring effortlessly. Thanks for sharing!
You can always be late to my party, Diane.
I’ve been told that it is referred to as a nuptial tubercle. I love seeing your photos and reading the stories you post.
“I’ve been told that it is referred to as a nuptial tubercle”
Nanci A. mentioned the same thing in a comment below. To me that’s a new name. Thanks, Lleni.
Gorgeous photo of a beautiful bird!! What great light – the dark background really frames the pelican perfectly!
Thank you, Joanne.
Brilliant photo of the pelican that you took 2 days ago. I love the bird looking so sedate while surrounded by its rippling reflection. The contrasts of dark shadows and light are amazing. And I learned something fascinating – a caruncle on an American White Pelican isn’t just interesting but wow, it falls off after mating season and grows back the next year. Thank you for providing such fun and surprising facts.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks, Melanie.
Ron – just back from our Willow Lake where there were about 18 pelicans most likely on their way to Idaho or Utah breeding grounds. Every one has the caruncle so I think it is definitely associated with courtship and breeding. I am sending you a couple photos.
Everett, I hope your pelicans show up here. Either way I wish them an uneventful trip.
This one belongs on the cover of Feathered Photography magazine.
Although out of their normal range, we see one or a small group in Puget Sound occasionally, but I don’t know if they appear every year.
“Epidermal plate”? I would have thought that it was a kind of keratinous material. But a quick search describes keratin as a protein in epithelial cells. Very confusing. I think I’ll go look for some pelicans.🥴
Lyle, I’ve also seen it described as a bony plate. I don’t think that’s accurate.
“Feathered Photography magazine?” Sounds interesting, do you know how I can get a subscription?
Your local pond has a nice list of visitors. I like the high contrast in the image. I have held a shed caruncle, they feel like a giant toenail.
You comment about the learning curve of the new camera being a unsurmountable obstacle has me dreading my own camera change.
April, I think the change will be worth it but it’s a struggle at the beginning. Part of the problem for me is that I’ve been shooting with the 7D and 7D!I for so very long and I’m such an extraordinary creature of habit it’s very hard for me to change my ways.
I’m sure you’re more flexible than this old fart.
It is good to be back – and to be welcomed with one of my favourite birds. It is also good to get a closer look at a feature ‘our’ pelicans don’t have.
Thanks, EC. You’ve been missed.
While I was watching them during our travels in Australia. I wondered if the caruncle grew on the Australian pelicans. We were there in winter, but I could not find information about a caruncle for them. Nice to know they don’t have them.
Wonderful ripples in the water that “he” is gliding from. BTW, how can you tell its male? I can only guess because they look so similar except for a slight difference in size so there has to be others for me to compare to.
“how can you tell its male?”
I can’t, Kent. That’s why I put ‘he’ in quotes.
Here’s another fun one for you, Ron. That growth is also known as a sail, but my absolute favorite term is “nuptial tubercle.” Every spring, my students and I look for the growths so that we can shout out this bit of silliness and smile.
It’s hard to say it with a straight face.
Ha, I see what you mean about “nuptial tubercle”, Nanci.
Love those birds. Beautiful shot of one.
Thanks, Michael.
Just plain beautiful!! New camera will be here Monday, just in time for the spring flowers. Now to learn the new buttons. This one is a step up from the one I preordered (that seemed would never be fulfilled) so will have a larger learning curve.
Thanks, Jo. I used to think of learning curves simply as challenges but the one associated with my new camera is more like a nearly unsurmountable obstacle. Making progress though…
I think that your photo #1 today might just be my most favorite image of yours–
any species, location, time of day, etc. that I’ve yet seen…..much of the impact
is from the wonderful drama of the lighting, but the crispness of the texture on
the bird– like the silhouette of the white head feathers against dark, languid
water ripples, and the few touches of color animating the black and white–
classic pose, beautiful composition–what a KEEPER !
Thanks, Kris. I’m delighted you like it that much.
I believe some of that “crispness” you mention can be attributed to the autofocus capabilities of the new camera.
Beautiful! Lighting is dramatic and shows the Pelican off well. Eye looks a bit strange to me but may be the light or do they hae a 3rd eyelid? Caruncle is interesting. Rarely see them “close up” here so, probably, just haven’t noticed it. Love watching them soar in formation….. 🙂
Judy, I think the eye effect you mention was caused by a closed membrane that still has a catch light.
I believe all birds have a nictitating membrane. I know of no exceptions.
Once again an educational post. Thanks Ron. Really like the photo with the bright white Pelican against the dark water and the reflection. I have seen that growth just once or twice on a visiting Pelican, but never took the time to learn what is was.
PS: Like Terri’s description of the life style of the Pelicans.
We still have our one guy Utah tagged N09 who we call Ted Williams. He has been with us now for about four years.
So Everett, you made me do some research. I suspected the number Ted Williams wore on his uniform was #9 but I had to look it up to confirm.
In terms of importance I think you outdo me – you make me look up things about science while I make you look up baseball info
😊
Ron –
I liked your use of the word Agnostic in regard to the Pelican. It has its roots in Biology. It allows us the stance that some things are UNKOWNABLE. 😎
Thanks Mark but the word I used was actually “agonistic”, not “agnostic”. In zoology agonistic means “associated with conflict” or “combative”.
Cornell’s Birds of the World uses that word very, very often so it’s become embedded in my vocabulary. I probably should have defined it in my text.
That first shot is astounding, from the fuzzy hairdo to the rippled reflection. Interesting information about the caruncle. Your mirrorless camera is working out very well.
Thank you, Kenneth. I’m slowly making progress with the new camera but it’s been a struggle.
Interesting about the caruncle. When folks ask “if you could be a bird, which bird would you be?” and my answer is the American White Pelican! because they fly in graceful ballet-type social formations, they migrate, they swim, they feed in social groups, they mate for life and watch out for each other. So when there’s a “lonely” bird somewhere, it’s usually because of a broken wing or illness, very concerning to me.
Terri, I see lone pelicans fairly often, although more often they’re in groups. But you’re right, if you see a lone pelican you always have to consider the possiblity of injury or illness.
Actually, American White Pelicans don’t mate for life, they’re serially monogamous and form pairs for one breeding season. This from Cornell:
” Earliest migrants arrive on foraging grounds in vicinity of colony up to 3 weeks before pairing. Courting and pairing occur rapidly once birds arrive at colony.”.