Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
The Great White Pelican, also called Eastern White Pelican, has the largest wingspan of any pelican species at over 10 feet and has black edges to its wings.
It is native to eastern Europe, Mediterranean (Eur/Africa), Near East, Central Asia and India.
Although heavy birds, pelicans fly well and can stay in the air for 24 hours when migrating.
"A wonderful bird is the pelican, its beak can hold more than its belly can" (anon.)
The flexible pouch is used for catching and swallowing fish.
A Great White compares its fully open pouch to that of a Spot-billed. Great Whites sometimes fish
in a cooperative, horseshoe group, herding fish to the shallows to scoop up.
In flight, their black-edged wings distinguish them from the Dalmation Pelicans which overlap the same range. Sometimes flocks are mixed.
Great White Pelican with Cormorants
Males grow a crest in breeding plumage.
Pelican Links:
Roseate/Eastern
Great White with American White
Dalmatian
Dalmatian leading Great Whites
Pink-backed
Spot-billed
Australian Pelican
American White
Brown/Eastern Brown/Californian
