bird · GBIF taxon 5229155
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchosAlso known as Rough-billed Pelican, White Pelican
These magnificent giants soar gracefully on broad, black-tipped wings, often riding thermals in synchronized, wheeling formations high in the sky. Unlike their brown relatives, they do not plunge-dive for food, choosing instead to corral fish cooperatively in shallow waters by swimming shoulder-to-shoulder and scooping up prey in their massive, expandable throat pouches. During the breeding season, adults grow a distinctive, temporary horn on the upper ridge of their bright orange bills.
MigratorySocialWaterbird
Licensed reference(c) Frank Schulenburg, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Carnivore (primarily fish, crayfish, and amphibians)
- family
- Pelecanidae
- threats
- Habitat loss, water pollution, human disturbance at nesting colonies, and climate change
- life Span
- 15 to 20 years in the wild
LC
Capable of delivering a powerful pinch with their large bill if cornered; observe from a respectful distance.
- Watch for cooperative feeding: Look for groups swimming in a semicircle, beating their wings to herd fish into the shallows.
- Keep your distance at nesting sites: Breeding colonies on isolated islands are highly sensitive to human disturbance and may abandon nests if approached.
- Scan the thermals: On warm afternoons, look high in the sky to see flocks soaring effortlessly in giant, lazy circles.