Great White Pelican

Adults have brilliant white plumage with a slight pinkish tinge during the breeding season. The primaries and secondaries are black. Juveniles are darker with brownish-grey plumage and brownish flight feathers.

Massive size, white body with contrasting black flight feathers, pinkish face skin, and a massive yellowish-pink bill with a large throat pouch.

Length: 140-180 cm (55-71 in), Wingspan: 226-360 cm (89-142 in), Weight: 9-15 kg (20-33 lbs)

Generally silent away from the breeding grounds, but emits low-pitched grunts, croaks, and groans at colonies.

Primarily fish, consuming up to a kilogram or more daily. They often forage cooperatively by forming a semicircle to drive fish into shallow water.

Shallow freshwater lakes, swamps, deltas, and occasionally coastal lagoons and estuaries.

Migratory in the northern parts of its range, wintering in Africa and southern Asia; resident in much of sub-Saharan Africa.

Breeds colonially on islands in lakes or extensive reed beds. Constructs a crude mound of vegetation on the ground. Clutches usually contain 2-3 chalky white eggs.

Australian Pelican (darker wings and pink bill), Dalmatian Pelican (larger, grayer, with curly head feathers and a silvery-grey bill).

Acts as an apex predator in aquatic food webs, helping regulate fish populations and indicating overall wetland ecosystem health.

Least Concern, with stable to fluctuating population trends depending on the region.

Look for them near large, shallow lakes, deltas, and coastal wetlands. They are best observed early in the morning when they begin foraging.

Despite their heavy look, pelicans are exceptionally light for their size because their bones are hollow and have internal air sacs to aid in buoyancy and flight.