Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)
Pelicans are well known and attractive aquatic birds. Our pelican is modelled in a ready for take-off pose with a fish in its beak so that you can see its enormous wingspan as well as its conspicuous throat pouch.
Due to their heavy weight, pelicans are not the most elegant creatures when taking flight or landing. Making up for their lack of elegance is the fact that they can fly for long distances.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
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Global Home:
Africa, Europe
Africa, Europe
- Primary Habitat:
Wetlands, Sea,
Wetlands
Bogs
CoastlineSea
Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs, Subtidal Sandy, Macroalgal/Kelp, Seagrass
Coastline
Mud Shoreline and Intertidal Mud Flats
Pelicans are very large aquatic birds with a wingspan which can reach over 3 metres. Pelicans live around the shores of oceans, rivers and lakes since their diet consists almost exclusively of fish. The pelicans' most distinctive feature is their long beak with a throat pouch on the bottom. This allows the pelican to use its beak like a scoop when hunting for fish and carry even large fish. Pelicans' feathers are usually white with black sections on their wings. Sometimes they even appear slightly pink or grey.
