White Pelicans, Florida
A Scoop of Pelicans
A group of pelicans is called a scoop because of their most distinctive feature — the oversized throat pouch. Pelicans feed by dipping or plunging into the water and literally scooping up fish along with a gulp of water, which they then drain before swallowing their catch. The word perfectly mirrors both the action and the shape of their bill. Few birds are more defined by a single feeding motion than a pelican making a scoop. The photo features white pelicans in Florida. The illustration features brown pelicans — the two different species we get in the United States. To get your wildlife inspired T-shirts, visit my store at Species Limited. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.