White Pelican

The White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus is a member of the pelican family. It breeds from southeastern Europe through Asia in swamps and shallow lakes. The tree nest is a crude heap of vegetation.

This is a large pelican, at 160cm length and with a 280cm wingspan. It differs from the Dalmatian Pelican in that it has pure white, rather than greyish-white, plumage, a bare pink facial patch around the eye and pinkish legs. Immature birds are grey and have dark flight feathers.

This pelican migrates fairly short distances, wintering in northeast Africa. In flight, it is an elegant soaring bird, with the flock moving in synchrony. The neck is then held back like a heron's.

As is well known, pelicans catch fish in their huge bill pouches, most, like this species, while swimming at the surface.

Like Dalmatian Pelican, this species has declined greatly through habitat loss and persecution.