White Pelicans
The White Pelican is a huge bird, with only the Dalmatian Pelican averaging larger amongst the pelicans. The wingspan of the White Pelican can range from 7.41 to 11.8 feet, with the latter measurement the largest recorded among flying animals outside of the great albatrosses. The total length can range from 55 to 71 inches with the enormous bill comprising 11.5 to 18.5 inches of that length.
The immature White Pelican is grey with dark flight feathers. In breeding condition the male has pinkish skin on its face and the female has orangey skin. It differs from the Dalmatian pelican by its pure white, rather than greyish-white, plumage, a bare pink facial patch around the eye and pinkish legs. Males are larger than females, and have a long beak that grows in a downwards arc, as opposed to the shorter, straighter beak of the female. In flight, it is an elegant soaring bird, with the head held close to and aligned with the body by a downward bend in the neck.
The White Pelican is well adapted for aquatic life. The short strong legs and webbed feet propel it in water and aid the rather awkward takeoff from the water surface. Once aloft, the long-winged pelicans are powerful fliers, however, and often travel in spectacular V-formation groups.
The White Pelican is usually found in and around shallow warm fresh water. Well scattered groups of breeding pelicans occur through Eurasia from the eastern Mediterranean to Vietnam. In Eurasia, fresh or brackish waters may be inhabited and the White Pelican may be found in lakes, deltas, lagoons and marshes, usually with dense reed beds nearby for nesting purposes. Additionally, sedentary populations are found year-round in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert although these are patchy. Migratory populations are found from Eastern Europe to Kazakhstan during the breeding season. They arrive in late March or early April and depart after breeding from September to late November. Wintering locations for European White Pelicans are not exactly known but wintering birds may occur in north east Africa through Iraq to north India, with a particularly large number of breeders from Asia wintering around Pakistan.
The diet of the White Pelican consists mainly of fish and they leave their roost to feed early in the mornings and may fly over 60 miles in search of food. The White Pelican's pouch serves simply as a scoop. As it pushes its bill underwater, the lower bill bows out creating a large pouch which fills with water and fish. As the bird lifts its head, the pouch contracts and forces out the water but retaining the fish. A group of 6 to 8 White Pelicans will gather in a horseshoe formation in the water to feed together. They dip their bills in unison, creating a circle of open pouches, ready to trap every fish in the area. Most feeding is co-operative and done in groups, especially in shallow waters where fish schools can be corralled easily. White Pelicans are not restricted to fish, however, and are often opportunistic foragers. In addition, they also eat crustaceans, tadpoles and even turtles and will readily accept handouts from humans.
The White Pelican breeding season commences in April or May in temperate zones, essentially all year round in Africa and begins in February through April in India. Large numbers of White Pelicans breed together in colonies. Nest locations are variable with some populations making stick nests in trees but a majority nest in scrapes on the ground lined with grass, sticks, feathers and other material.
Date: 8th May 2015
Location: Evros Delta (east), East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece
The immature White Pelican is grey with dark flight feathers. In breeding condition the male has pinkish skin on its face and the female has orangey skin. It differs from the Dalmatian pelican by its pure white, rather than greyish-white, plumage, a bare pink facial patch around the eye and pinkish legs. Males are larger than females, and have a long beak that grows in a downwards arc, as opposed to the shorter, straighter beak of the female. In flight, it is an elegant soaring bird, with the head held close to and aligned with the body by a downward bend in the neck.
The White Pelican is well adapted for aquatic life. The short strong legs and webbed feet propel it in water and aid the rather awkward takeoff from the water surface. Once aloft, the long-winged pelicans are powerful fliers, however, and often travel in spectacular V-formation groups.
The White Pelican is usually found in and around shallow warm fresh water. Well scattered groups of breeding pelicans occur through Eurasia from the eastern Mediterranean to Vietnam. In Eurasia, fresh or brackish waters may be inhabited and the White Pelican may be found in lakes, deltas, lagoons and marshes, usually with dense reed beds nearby for nesting purposes. Additionally, sedentary populations are found year-round in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert although these are patchy. Migratory populations are found from Eastern Europe to Kazakhstan during the breeding season. They arrive in late March or early April and depart after breeding from September to late November. Wintering locations for European White Pelicans are not exactly known but wintering birds may occur in north east Africa through Iraq to north India, with a particularly large number of breeders from Asia wintering around Pakistan.
The diet of the White Pelican consists mainly of fish and they leave their roost to feed early in the mornings and may fly over 60 miles in search of food. The White Pelican's pouch serves simply as a scoop. As it pushes its bill underwater, the lower bill bows out creating a large pouch which fills with water and fish. As the bird lifts its head, the pouch contracts and forces out the water but retaining the fish. A group of 6 to 8 White Pelicans will gather in a horseshoe formation in the water to feed together. They dip their bills in unison, creating a circle of open pouches, ready to trap every fish in the area. Most feeding is co-operative and done in groups, especially in shallow waters where fish schools can be corralled easily. White Pelicans are not restricted to fish, however, and are often opportunistic foragers. In addition, they also eat crustaceans, tadpoles and even turtles and will readily accept handouts from humans.
The White Pelican breeding season commences in April or May in temperate zones, essentially all year round in Africa and begins in February through April in India. Large numbers of White Pelicans breed together in colonies. Nest locations are variable with some populations making stick nests in trees but a majority nest in scrapes on the ground lined with grass, sticks, feathers and other material.
Date: 8th May 2015
Location: Evros Delta (east), East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece
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Also in: East Macedonia and Thrace
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