Dalmatian Pelican
The Dalmatian Pelican is by a slight margin the largest of the pelican species and one of the largest living bird species. It measures 5 feet 3 inches to 6 feet in length with a wingspan of 9 feet 6 inches to 11 feet 4 inches. Its median weight is around 25 pounds which makes it perhaps the world's heaviest flying bird species, although the largest individuals among some male bustard and swan species may be heavier than the largest individual Dalmatian Pelican.
The somewhat similar-looking White Pelican broadly overlaps in size but has greater size sexual dimorphism. Female White Pelicans can be noticeably smaller than female Dalmatian Pelicans but male individuals of the two species are essentially the same size and weight.
The Dalmatian Pelican differs from the White Pelican in that it has curly nape feathers, grey legs and silvery-white (rather than pure white) plumage. In winter, the adult Dalmatian Pelican goes from silvery-grey to a dingier brownish-grey cream colour. Immature birds are grey and lack the pink facial patch of immature White Pelicans. The bare skin around the eye can vary from yellow to purplish in colour. In the breeding season the Dalmatian Pelican has an orange-red lower mandible and pouch against a yellow upper mandible but in winter the whole bill is a somewhat dull yellow. The bill, at 14 to 18 inches long, is the second largest of any bird after the Australian Pelican.
In flight, the Dalmatian Pelican is an elegant soaring bird, with the head held close to and aligned with the body by a downward bend in the neck. Unlike other pelicans, its wings are solid greyish-white with black tips.
The Dalmatian Pelican can be found in lakes, rivers, deltas and estuaries from south east Europe to India and China. Compared to the White Pelican, the Dalmatian Pelican is not as tied to lowland areas and will nest in suitable wetlands at many elevations. It is less opportunistic in breeding habitat selection than the White Pelican, usually returning to a traditional breeding site year after year unless it becomes completely unsuitable. The Dalmatian Pelican usually migrates short distances. It is dispersive in Europe, based on feeding opportunities, with most western birds staying through the winter in the Mediterranean region. It is more actively migratory in Asia, where most of the birds that breed in Russia fly down for the winter to the central Middle East, largely around Iran through to the Indian Subcontinent from Nepal to central India.
The Dalmatian Pelican has declined greatly throughout its range, more so than the White Pelican. During the 20th century, the species' numbers underwent a dramatic decline for reasons that are not entirely understood. The most likely reason was habitat loss due to human activities such as the drainage of wetlands and land development. Colonies are regularly disturbed by human activity, and, like all pelicans, the parents may temporarily leave their nest if threatened which then exposes the chicks to the risk of predation. Occasionally, Dalmatian Pelicans may be shot by fishermen who believe the birds are dangerously depleting the fish population and hence threatening their livelihood. Dalmatian Pelicans also regularly fly into power-lines and are killed by electrocution.
The largest single remaining colony of Dalmatian Pelicans in Europe is at the Prespa lakes shared between Albania and Greece with around 1400 pairs. Approximately 450 pairs breed in the Danube Delta in Romania. The country with the largest breeding population today, including about 70% of pairs or possibly over 3,000 pairs, is Russia.
Conservation efforts have been undertaken on behalf of the Dalmatian Pelican especially in Europe. Although they normally nest on the ground, Dalmatian Pelicans have nested on platforms put out in Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania in order to encourage them to breed. Rafts over water have also been set up for the species to use in Greece and Bulgaria. Power-lines have also been marked or dismantled in areas adjacent to colonies in these countries. Additionally, water-level management and educational programs may be aiding them at a local level.
The Dalmatian Pelican feeds almost entirely on fish. It usually forages alone or in groups of only 2 or 3 birds. It normally swims along, placidly and slowly, until it quickly dunks its head underwater and scoops the fish out along with great masses of water. The water is dumped out of the sides of the pouch and the fish is swallowed. Occasionally it may feed cooperatively with other pelicans by corralling fish into shallow waters and may even co-operate similarly while fishing alongside Cormorants.
Among a highly social family in general, the Dalmatian Pelican may have the least social inclinations. It naturally nests in relatively small groups compared to most other pelican species and sometimes may even nest alone. However, small colonies are usually formed, which regularly include upwards of 250 pairs. Occasionally, Dalmatian Pelicans may mix in with colonies of White Pelicans. Nesting sites selected are usually either islands in large bodies of water (typically lagoons or river deltas) or dense mats of aquatic vegetation.
The nest is a moderately-sized pile of grass, reeds, sticks and feathers and is usually located on or near the ground, often being placed on dense floating vegetation. Breeding commences in March or April, about a month before the White Pelican breeds.
Date: 17th May 2018
Location: Lake Srebarna, Silistra Province, Bulgaria
The somewhat similar-looking White Pelican broadly overlaps in size but has greater size sexual dimorphism. Female White Pelicans can be noticeably smaller than female Dalmatian Pelicans but male individuals of the two species are essentially the same size and weight.
The Dalmatian Pelican differs from the White Pelican in that it has curly nape feathers, grey legs and silvery-white (rather than pure white) plumage. In winter, the adult Dalmatian Pelican goes from silvery-grey to a dingier brownish-grey cream colour. Immature birds are grey and lack the pink facial patch of immature White Pelicans. The bare skin around the eye can vary from yellow to purplish in colour. In the breeding season the Dalmatian Pelican has an orange-red lower mandible and pouch against a yellow upper mandible but in winter the whole bill is a somewhat dull yellow. The bill, at 14 to 18 inches long, is the second largest of any bird after the Australian Pelican.
In flight, the Dalmatian Pelican is an elegant soaring bird, with the head held close to and aligned with the body by a downward bend in the neck. Unlike other pelicans, its wings are solid greyish-white with black tips.
The Dalmatian Pelican can be found in lakes, rivers, deltas and estuaries from south east Europe to India and China. Compared to the White Pelican, the Dalmatian Pelican is not as tied to lowland areas and will nest in suitable wetlands at many elevations. It is less opportunistic in breeding habitat selection than the White Pelican, usually returning to a traditional breeding site year after year unless it becomes completely unsuitable. The Dalmatian Pelican usually migrates short distances. It is dispersive in Europe, based on feeding opportunities, with most western birds staying through the winter in the Mediterranean region. It is more actively migratory in Asia, where most of the birds that breed in Russia fly down for the winter to the central Middle East, largely around Iran through to the Indian Subcontinent from Nepal to central India.
The Dalmatian Pelican has declined greatly throughout its range, more so than the White Pelican. During the 20th century, the species' numbers underwent a dramatic decline for reasons that are not entirely understood. The most likely reason was habitat loss due to human activities such as the drainage of wetlands and land development. Colonies are regularly disturbed by human activity, and, like all pelicans, the parents may temporarily leave their nest if threatened which then exposes the chicks to the risk of predation. Occasionally, Dalmatian Pelicans may be shot by fishermen who believe the birds are dangerously depleting the fish population and hence threatening their livelihood. Dalmatian Pelicans also regularly fly into power-lines and are killed by electrocution.
The largest single remaining colony of Dalmatian Pelicans in Europe is at the Prespa lakes shared between Albania and Greece with around 1400 pairs. Approximately 450 pairs breed in the Danube Delta in Romania. The country with the largest breeding population today, including about 70% of pairs or possibly over 3,000 pairs, is Russia.
Conservation efforts have been undertaken on behalf of the Dalmatian Pelican especially in Europe. Although they normally nest on the ground, Dalmatian Pelicans have nested on platforms put out in Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania in order to encourage them to breed. Rafts over water have also been set up for the species to use in Greece and Bulgaria. Power-lines have also been marked or dismantled in areas adjacent to colonies in these countries. Additionally, water-level management and educational programs may be aiding them at a local level.
The Dalmatian Pelican feeds almost entirely on fish. It usually forages alone or in groups of only 2 or 3 birds. It normally swims along, placidly and slowly, until it quickly dunks its head underwater and scoops the fish out along with great masses of water. The water is dumped out of the sides of the pouch and the fish is swallowed. Occasionally it may feed cooperatively with other pelicans by corralling fish into shallow waters and may even co-operate similarly while fishing alongside Cormorants.
Among a highly social family in general, the Dalmatian Pelican may have the least social inclinations. It naturally nests in relatively small groups compared to most other pelican species and sometimes may even nest alone. However, small colonies are usually formed, which regularly include upwards of 250 pairs. Occasionally, Dalmatian Pelicans may mix in with colonies of White Pelicans. Nesting sites selected are usually either islands in large bodies of water (typically lagoons or river deltas) or dense mats of aquatic vegetation.
The nest is a moderately-sized pile of grass, reeds, sticks and feathers and is usually located on or near the ground, often being placed on dense floating vegetation. Breeding commences in March or April, about a month before the White Pelican breeds.
Date: 17th May 2018
Location: Lake Srebarna, Silistra Province, Bulgaria
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Also in: Bulgaria
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