Pelicans, recognized by their large bills and throat pouches, begin life looking different from the adults seen gliding over coastal waters. The transformation from a hatchling to a fully feathered fledgling involves distinct phases of rapid growth and changes in appearance. These changes are driven by the need for insulation and eventual independence.
Appearance of the Naked Hatchling
A pelican chick emerging from its egg is classified as altricial, meaning it is born underdeveloped and completely dependent on its parents for survival. The newly hatched chick is small and vulnerable, typically weighing only a few ounces. Its skin is naked, lacking feathers, and the coloration varies by species, often appearing pink, orange, or black.
The skin frequently darkens to a gray or black hue within the first two weeks as the chick develops. The eyes of the hatchling are often closed or partially open upon arrival, and the chick struggles to support its large head. Newborn pelicans already possess a proportionally large bill tipped with a hard egg tooth used for breaking out of the shell.
The Downy Nestling Phase
Following the naked stage, the pelican chick rapidly develops a layer of thick down feathers, marking the beginning of the nestling phase. This down is soft, providing the necessary insulation that the initial bare skin could not offer. For many species, such as the American White Pelican, this down is a snow-white color, giving the chick a fluffy appearance.
In other species, the down may be a darker brown or grayish color, as seen in the Brown Pelican. During this stage, the young birds experience rapid growth, sometimes increasing their hatching weight significantly. They remain entirely in the nest, relying on their parents to regurgitate fish directly into their mouths or into the developing pouch for them to retrieve.
The downy coat is not suitable for aquatic life or flight, but it helps the chick regulate its body temperature as it grows. By about 17 to 20 days old, nestlings are typically able to walk and often leave the immediate nest site to join large groups of other young known as “crèches” or “pods.” This communal grouping offers protection and helps prepare the young for the next stage of development.
Developing the Bill and Juvenile Plumage
As the nestling phase progresses, the chick’s physical form shifts in preparation for fledging, which occurs around 10 to 12 weeks after hatching. The gular sac, or pouch, begins to stretch and become more noticeable, though it is still smaller than the adult version. The bill itself grows rapidly, with the tarsus (leg) reaching full length relatively early to support the bird’s increasing size and activity.
The fuzzy down is progressively replaced by the first set of true feathers, known as juvenile plumage, which gives the young bird a more streamlined, adult-like silhouette. This initial plumage is generally duller and less vibrant than the adult’s colorful breeding patterns, often appearing grayish or brownish overall. For instance, juvenile Brown Pelicans are typically gray-brown on the back and neck with a pale underside.
The distinct, bright colors found on the bill and facial skin of adult pelicans during the breeding season are absent in the juvenile. Juveniles lack the vivid markings, such as the red throat pouch or yellow head wash, which only develop as the birds mature over the next few years. Once fledged, they resemble a smaller, muted version of the adult pelican, continuing to be fed by their parents for a period before achieving full independence.