Pelecanus onocrotalus

Also known as the eastern white pelican, rosy pelican or white pelican 

Family: Pelicans

Habitat: swamps and shallow lakes

An unmistakable bird of wetlands, swamps and shallow lakes, sometimes found along alkaline and brackish water bodies. They are the second largest among the pelican family with wingspans of 7.5 feet to 11.8 feet. Males can weigh as much as 10 kg and females at 7 kg are slightly smaller. The male has a downward bend in the neck and the female has a shorter, straighter beak. The plumage is predominantly white except on remiges, with a faint pink tinge on the neck and a yellowish base on the fore neck. In the breeding season, the male has pinkish skin while the female has orangey skin on its face.

The great white pelican is highly sociable and often forms large flocks. It is well adapted for aquatic life. The short strong legs and webbed feet propel it in water and aid a rather awkward takeoff from the water surface. In-flight, it is an elegant soaring bird, with the head held close to and aligned with the body. Its flight consists of a few slow wingbeats followed by a glide. Once aloft, the long-winged pelicans are powerful fliers, however, and often travel in spectacular linear, circular, or V-formation groups.

Feeding Behavior

The great white pelican mainly eats fish. It leaves its roost to feed early in the morning and may fly over 100 km in search of food. It needs from 0.9 to 1.4 kg (2.0 to 3.1 lb) of fish every day feeding on Arabian tooth carp in India.

A group of 6 to 8 great white pelicans gather in a horseshoe formation in 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 cooperative and done in groups, especially in shallow waters where fish schools can be corralled easily, though they may also forage alone as well.

Great white pelicans are not restricted to fish, however, and are often opportunistic foragers.