Great White Pelican
Pelecanus onocrotalus
This large white waterbird is found in the shallow lakes and swamps of Africa and is one of the world’s largest flying birds.
Great White Pelicans are often seen fishing cooperatively, swimming in a wide arc to round up fish and then scoop them into their pouch. Once a pelican captures its prey, the bird drains any water it may have collected with it before swallowing the prey.
Conservation
The population trend of the Great White Pelican is unknown. In some countries it is hunted and sold as food in markets, though in most countries this is not its primary threat. Instead, it is at risk from habitat loss (wetland drainage), varying water levels, pollution, disturbance of breeding colonies, and persecution from fish farmers who believe them to be pests.
- Species
- Great White Pelican
- Length
- 140-175 cm
- Wingspan
- 226–360 cm
- Weight
- 5.4–15 kg
- Eggs
- 1-3
- Range
- Breeds discontinuously from southeast Europe to Kazakhstan. Winters in northeast Africa, southern Iraq, northern Indian Subcontinent, western Myanmar, and widely across the Afrotropics.
- Conservation status
- Not globally threatened (Least Concern).
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