A Male California Brown Pelican (In His Mating Colors) , The brown pelican is the smallest member of seven species of pelicans. There are four subspecies of brown pelicans, two of which reside in the United States, the eastern brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis carolinensis) and the California brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus). The California brown pelican, as of October 13, 1970 was listed as endangered on both the Federal and State level. the Brown Pelican is found along the ocean shores and not on inland lakes. It is the only dark pelican, and also the only one that plunges from the air into the water to catch its food. During courtship their colors become much more vibrant. The chest and head feathers become golden, the eyes which are normally a yellowish gray turn blue.