Brown pelicans are dark and bulky. Immatures have brownish- grey necks and white underparts.
All pelicans have bills that are as long or longer than their heads.
The huge naked skin pouch suspended from the lower half of the hooked bill holds two or three times more than the bird's stomach-about 3 gallons of water and fish. Pelicans hold their catch and let the water drain from the corners of their mouths before they swallow. Fish are never carried in the pouch, but in the gullet or esophagus. The pouch, besides acting as a dip net, is also pulsated in extreme heat to allow cooling. Once a pair forms a bond, overt communiction between them is minimal.