American white pelicans, head to head

Two American white pelicans preening close together, one stretched tall and one folded low, catching the light off droplets flung from their feathers. Unlike the coastal brown pelicans that plunge-dive, these are surface feeders, scooping fish while swimming rather than diving from height.

Why it matters

American white pelicans breed in large colonies on isolated inland lake islands across the northern Great Plains and Great Basin, including several in Utah, and often forage cooperatively — groups will herd fish into shallow water together rather than hunting alone.

Getting the shot

Backlit spray turned an otherwise plain preening moment into something with real sparkle. I waited for the two birds’ postures to contrast — one high, one low — to give the pair some visual tension rather than a static side-by-side pose.