NCI 2024
    Groups
    Mammals Birds Amphibians Reptiles Petromyz' – Lampreys Sharks & rays Myxini – Hagfishes Dipneusti – Lungfish Gastropoda – Snails & slugs Coelac' – Coelacanths Malacostraca – Malacostracans Insecta – Insects / bugs Bivalvia – Marine molluscs Pycnogonida – Sea spiders Animals Holocep' – Chimaeras Chilopoda – Centipedes Cephalopoda – Squids & octopuses Merostomata – Horseshoe crabs Arachnida – Spiders & scorpions Diplopoda – Millipedes Ray-finned fishes More Classes
    Filters

    Regions

    See AllSelect

    Habitat

    See AllSelect

    Great white pelican

      Saved In:

    Underneath this colorful beak, there’s a hidden surprise – a built-in net for scooping up a delicious lunch!

    Arendal








      Saved In:


    Great white pelican

    EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE

    Underneath this colorful beak, there’s a hidden surprise – a built-in net for scooping up a delicious lunch!

    Population 260,000 – 300,000

    Distinguished by its impressive size and striking appearance, this pelican is one of the largest flying birds in the world, boasting a wingspan that can reach up to 4 meters (12 feet). It is predominantly found in the shallow lakes, swamps, and marshes of Europe, Asia, and Africa, favoring locations where waters are rich in fish.

    One of the Great White Pelican’s most remarkable features is its enormous bill, which is the longest of any bird in the world. This bill can be up to 46 cm (18 in) long and is equipped with a unique, stretchy throat pouch that the pelican uses to scoop up fish. After catching its prey, the pelican drains the water from its pouch before swallowing the fish whole. During feeding times, these pelicans often work as a team to herd fish into shallow waters, making them easier to catch.

    The body of the Great White Pelican is equally impressive. They have a hefty build with predominantly white plumage, which is beautifully contrasted by the pale pink facial skin around their eyes and bill. During the breeding season, adults develop a subtle yellowish hue on their chests and a pinkish blush on their breast feathers, adding to their colorful display. Their legs and webbed feet are usually greyish-blue, adding a final touch to their distinctive appearance.

    An interesting aspect of their behavior is their migratory pattern. Some populations of Great White Pelicans are migratory, traveling considerable distances between their breeding and wintering grounds, while others are more sedentary, staying in the same area year-round. Their ability to soar gracefully on thermal air currents during migration is a spectacular sight, with flocks forming impressive formations in the sky.

    Distribution

    Country
    Population est.
    Status
    Year
    Comments
    Afghanistan
    2020
    Albania
    2020
    Breeding
    Algeria
    2020
    Vagrant
    Angola
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Armenia
    2020
    Breeding
    Austria
    2020
    Vagrant
    Azerbaijan
    2020
    Bahrain
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Bangladesh
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Belarus
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Benin
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Bosnia And Herz.
    2020
    Breeding
    Botswana
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Bulgaria
    2020
    Burkina Faso
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Burundi
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Cameroon
    2020
    Central Af. Rep.
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Chad
    2020
    Congo-Brazzaville
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Croatia
    2020
    Vagrant
    Cyprus
    2020
    Czechia
    2020
    Vagrant
    Côte D’ivoire
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    DR Congo (Kinshasa)
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Denmark
    2020
    Vagrant
    Djibouti
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Egypt
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Eritrea
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Eswatini
    2020
    Vagrant
    Ethiopia
    2020
    Finland
    2020
    Vagrant
    France
    2020
    Vagrant
    Gabon
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Gambia
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Georgia
    2020
    Breeding
    Ghana
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Greece
    2020
    Guinea-Bissau
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Guinea
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Hungary
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct locally
    India
    2020
    Iran
    2020
    Iraq
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Israel
    2020
    Jordan
    2020
    Passage
    Kazakhstan
    2020
    Breeding
    Kenya
    2020
    Breeding
    Kuwait
    2020
    Kyrgyzstan
    2020
    Passage
    Latvia
    2020
    Vagrant
    Lebanon
    2020
    Passage
    Libya
    2020
    Vagrant
    Malawi
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Maldives
    2020
    Vagrant
    Mali
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Malta
    2020
    Vagrant
    Mauritania
    2020
    Breeding
    Montenegro
    2020
    Possibly Extinct
    Morocco
    2020
    Vagrant
    Mozambique
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Myanmar
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Namibia
    2020
    Breeding
    Netherlands
    2020
    Vagrant
    Niger
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Nigeria
    2020
    North Macedonia
    2020
    Norway
    2020
    Vagrant
    Oman
    2020
    Passage
    Pakistan
    2020
    Poland
    2020
    Vagrant
    Portugal
    2020
    Vagrant
    Romania
    2020
    Russia
    2020
    European Russia
    Rwanda
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Saudi Arabia
    2020
    Senegal
    2020
    Breeding
    Serbia
    2020
    Possibly Extinct
    Sierra Leone
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Slovenia
    2020
    Vagrant
    Somalia
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    South Africa
    2020
    South Sudan
    2020
    Breeding
    Spain
    2020
    Vagrant
    Sri Lanka
    2020
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Sudan
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Switzerland
    2020
    Vagrant
    Syria
    2020
    Passage
    Tanzania
    2020
    Togo
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Tunisia
    2020
    Vagrant
    Turkmenistan
    2020
    Turkey
    2020
    UAE
    2020
    Passage
    Uganda
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Ukraine
    2020
    Uzbekistan
    2020
    Breeding
    Yemen
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Zambia
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Zimbabwe
    2020
    Non-Breeding

    Anything we've missed?

    Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!

    Suggest an edit

    Get to know me

    Terrestrial / Aquatic

    Altricial / Precocial

    Polygamous / Monogamous

    Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

    Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

    Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock

    Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

    Migratory: Yes / No

    Domesticated: Yes / No

    Dangerous: Yes / No

    EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE
    Least Concern(IUCN)
    World Population 260,000 – 300,000
    Honorary Patron: BioDB
    Become a Patron

    Threats

    Habitat destruction / Climate change / Freshwater pollution / Marine pollution / Deforestation / Farming / Fishing practices / Poaching & wildlife trade / Invasive species / Parasites & diseases / Noise pollution / Light pollution

    My ID

    Scientific name: Pelecanus onocrotalus Other names:

    Eastern white pelican
    Rosy pelican
    White pelican

    Physical traits

    Length: 140 – 180 cm (55 – 71 in) Weight Male: 9 – 15 kg (20 – 33 pounds) Weight Female: 5 – 9 kg (12 – 20 pounds) Lifespan: 15 – 30 years Wingspan: 226 – 360 cm (8 – 12 ft) Incubation: 29 – 36 days Eggs: 1 – 4 eggs
    Habitats: Marine Lakes Marsh Swamp
    Regions: Africa Asia Europe
    Add to my list
      Saved In: