This white pelican is one of the largest birds in the United States (50-70 in) with a wingspan of up to three meters (118 in)! (Only the California condor has a larger wing width). During the breeding season, the adult pelicans develop a protuberance, or a "horn" on the lower part of the upper mandible (approximately where a black spot appears on the bill in the picture). This has given it the Swedish name "Horned pelican". Another characteristic, which we observed in a freshwater lagoon in San Diego, is that a large group of pelicans, a dozen or more, gather to fish collectively by helping to encircle and drive fish, which then becomes easier to catch.