“Pelican retreat,” wall decor by American artist Matthew Schwartz. A pelican is a large water bird in the Pelecanidae family. The majority of pelicans, except for browns and peruvians, have pale plumage. The pelican is commonly seen in coastal and inland waters, catching fish near or at the surface of the water. A flock of birds travels together, hunts cooperatively, and breeds together. With the calm ocean background and pelicans sitting over boats, pelicans enjoy their day.