Great White Pelican

Pelicans 👁 129 views Updated 2026-11-01

Great White Pelican (<em>Pelecanus onocrotalus</em>) is a species of Pelicans (<em>Pelecanidae</em>) in the order Pelicans and Allies.

Overview

Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) is a species of Pelicans (Pelecanidae) in the order Pelicans and Allies. A massive white waterbird with a huge orange throat pouch; fishes cooperatively, herding fish and scooping them up; breeds in large colonies on lakes; one of the heaviest flying birds.

Scientific Classification

Genus: Pelecanus; binomial: Pelecanus onocrotalus; authority: Linnaeus, 1758. Typical size: 140-180cm (wingspan 330cm). Average lifespan: 15-25 years.

Distribution

Breeding range: the Palearctic and Africa. Non-breeding range: to Africa and n India.

Conservation Status

This taxon is listed as Extant (living) in the IOC World Bird List.

Remarks

No additional remarks recorded.

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