American White Pelicans are white with black primary feathers. Their large bills contain a pouch for scooping up fish. The pouch is not visible during flight.
Their presence in Illinois is an interesting story, because their normal migration route is well west of here. A few years back, a group of pelicans wound up in the Illinois River Valley.
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Perhaps a storm pushed them off course. Whatever the reason, they have returned in greater numbers each year. Migration is a learned behavior, and apparently the pelicans have learned that the route to a warm winter home goes through Illinois!
Pelicans often fish cooperatively in groups(above). These pelicans were seen at Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge north of Havana.
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