WHITE PELICAN. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmelin

Field characters.—Very large size (largest bird of flight seen in the Yosemite region); total length five feet; bill a foot or more long, about three times length of head. Plumage pure white save for black tipping of wings. Flies in flocks, the individuals either abreast or in echelon, that is, in rows diagonal to line of flight; wing strokes intermittent, the birds alternately flapping and sailing; the head drawn in on body distinguishes pelicans in flight from geese, in which the head and neck are outstretched.

Occurrence.—A migrant through the region. Once noted at Snelling.

The White Pelican is only a transient in the Yosemite region. On May 26, 1915, at Snelling, a flock of about 65 of these impressive birds was seen flying north, high overhead. Five minutes later another flock of about 100 passed over, and then one of 19. Although the birds were fully 1000 feet above the observer, they were easily identified by means of the field characters given above.