White pelican
One of the heaviest flying birds
This very large bird closely resembles its cousin, the Dalmatian pelican. The white pelican, however, differs in its white plumage, with black flight feathers visible in flight.
It turns pink during the breeding season. Despite weighing 12 kilograms, it is an excellent flyer: it is a particularly skilled glider and is a joy to watch.
IUCN status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN)
Description
Pelecanus onocrotalus
Pelicans
7 to 12kg
100 to 175cm
Reed beds, estuaries, lagoons, marshes, and the great African lakes
Least Concern
20 to 25 year
Did you know?
Its fishing technique is quite unique: it practices group fishing. Many pelicans swim side by side and move closer to the shore, herding the fish they catch into the pouch of their beak. This pouch can hold up to 13 liters of water and store up to 4 kg of fish.
Food
His average daily fish consumption ranges from 1 to 1.5 kg.
