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Global Animal Guide

What Do Brown Pelicans Eat?

Quick answer

Brown Pelicans feed on a diet shaped by their habitat — see our full brown pelican profile for prey, plants, and seasonal shifts.

By the Global Animal Guide editorial team Last reviewed How we research & review

Diet overview

The brown pelican dives from heights into fish schools, scooping prey in an expandable throat pouch.

Feeding behaviour

Many brown pelicans adjust what they eat as seasons change.

Ecological role

Their diet links them to the wider food web in their native range.

FAQs

Where can I learn more about the brown pelican?

See our full brown pelican profile for habitat, diet, and conservation status.

Where do these facts come from?

Researched from IUCN Red List data and our editorial brown pelican species profile.

← Back to Brown Pelican guide