Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Brown Pelican with Red Pouch

I spent this past winter photographing brown pelicans. Out of dozens of pelicans that I photographed; this pelican stood out. This photograph shows a red pouch that occurs during breeding season. But, it is very rare to see the red pouch on a pelican on the East Coast in North Carolina. The breeding pelicans in this area have a green tinged pouch.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 04.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America
Camera: NIKON D500
Copyright: © Leesa Beckmann