FAMILY PELECANIDAE

• Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

• Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

• Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

• Birds (Class Aves)

• Pelicans, Herons, Ibises, and Allies (Order Pelecaniformes)

• Pelicans (Family Pelecanidae)

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Family Pelecanidae is the pelican family, a group of large aquatic birds distinguished by their long bills and expandable throat pouches used for catching fish. In the state of Guerrero, including coastal areas such as Zihuatanejo, the family is represented primarily by the Brown Pelican. This species is common along the Pacific coast, where it can often be seen gliding low over the ocean, resting on rocky shores and docks, or plunging dramatically into the water to catch fish. Brown Pelicans feed mainly on small schooling fish such as sardines and anchovies, using their throat pouch to scoop up both fish and water before draining the excess water and swallowing their prey.