Being a New Orleanian I have spent time fishing on the gulf, with pelicans waiting near me on the pier for me to throw them any "extras" I don't want. (Pelicans are the Louisiana State Bird.) This is EXACTLY what they look like. You tend to see them flying at a distance, with that large pouch beneath their beaks, and you don't get a sense of the intensity of their appearance as you do here. Pelicans are great at catching "gifts" thrown to them in mid-air, and diving into the warm gulf to have their pouch balloon out and collect many small fish. A very detailed and characterful portrait! Wish the artist had signed their full name and therefore could be identified, but so be it.