Animal profile

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

AvesShallow lakes, deltas, lagoons and marshesLeast Concern

Field profile

The great white pelican is a very large waterbird with a wingspan approaching three metres and a pink-tinged white plumage in breeding condition. It feeds in shallow water rather than by diving. Groups often fish in coordinated lines or horseshoes.

Published field notes

2024-11-26

Great White Pelican

Great white pelicans fish in coordinated lines

These pelicans do not dive. Groups swim abreast in a line or horseshoe, beating the water with their wings to drive fish into the shallows, then dip their pouches in near unison. The pouch is a scoop and a strainer, not a storage bag.

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