American White Pelican Gular Pouch Behavior Explained

American White Pelicans have a large throat pouch called a gular pouch that they stretch to keep the skin flexible for feeding. While photographing an American White Pelican on the Arkansas River in Oklahoma, I watched one bird drift close and stretch its pouch wide open. The brief moment gave me a clear look inside the pouch, something you rarely get to see this well in the field.

I have photographed this same behavior before, including a pelican gular stretch in flight, which shows how flexible the pouch remains even while the bird is airborne.

I was watching a group of American White Pelicans on a cold December morning at the Robert S. Kerr Lock and Dam when one bird drifted away from the others and began stretching its bill. The pouch opened wide and showed the soft pink lining inside. I raised my camera and kept the shutter going.

Wildlife Notes: American White Pelican Gular Pouch Behavior

American White Pelicans stretch their bill pouches to keep the skin flexible and ready for feeding. The pouch works as a fishing net, not a storage bag. The bird scoops up fish and water, then tips its head back so the water drains out before swallowing the catch. This stretching action keeps the pouch supple and in working shape. You can learn more about this behavior in the American White Pelican species profile from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

The pink color inside the pouch can look brighter in breeding season. It is still visible in winter light. These pelicans are common on rivers and lakes in Oklahoma during the colder months. They often feed together in lines and herd fish into shallow water.

This bird was floating alone near the dam when it began the gular stretch. The wide gape shows the inner structure clearly. You do not see inside an American White Pelican pouch very often, so I stayed still and kept shooting.

Photography Notes: Photographing Pelican Behavior on the Water

I photographed this bird at the Robert S. Kerr Lock and Dam on the Arkansas River in Oklahoma. The morning was cold and calm, with soft light across the water. I sat in the rocks on the shore so I could stay low to the river.

I used my Canon EOS R5 Mark II with the Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM lens at 800 mm to fill the frame. A fast shutter speed of 1/3200 second froze any motion in the head and water. I set the aperture to f/9 and ISO 1250 with a small negative exposure compensation of -1/3 stop to protect the bright white feathers.

Image Information

• Camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark II
• Lens: Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
• Aperture: f/9
• Shutter Speed: 1/3200 second
• ISO: 1250
• Focal Length: 800 mm
• Exposure Compensation: -1/3