Pelican

Pelican

Pelicans are a genus of large water birds that make up the family Pelecanidae. They are characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents before swallowing. They have predominantly pale plumage, the exceptions being the Brown Pelican and Peruvian Pelican. The bills, pouches, and bare facial skin of all species become brightly colored before the breeding season. The eight living pelican species have a patchy global distribution, ranging latitudinally from the tropics to the temperate zone, though they are absent from interior South America and from polar regions and the open ocean.

Biology and Behavior

Pelicans are large birds with large pouches on their bills which they use to scoop up fish. Alternatively, they use their scoop-like bills to pick up food from the water's surface. While pelicans are known for their feeding behavior, they are also known for their sociable behavior, as they are often seen in large flocks.

Species

There are eight living species of pelicans in the world today: the Great White Pelican, the Pink-backed Pelican, the Spot-billed Pelican, the Dalmatian Pelican, the American White Pelican, the Brown Pelican, the Peruvian Pelican, and the Australian Pelican.

Conservation

Several species of pelicans are on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. The Dalmatian Pelican, for example, is classified as Near Threatened. Conservation efforts are in place to protect these birds and their habitats.

See Also

• Bird
• Water Bird
• Pelecanidae

Pelican Resources
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