Pelicans are water birds living by rivers, lakes, ponds, lagoons, swamps, wetlands, and coastlines preferring a warm climate. A pelican’s diet consists mostly of fish, but pelicans also eat birds, insects, crustaceans, turtles, amphibians and mammals. Pelicans have existed for 40 million years. Pelicans are mature at 3-4 years old, living 15-25 years in the wild and 50-54 years in captivity.
The Australian pelican is in New Guinea, Fiji, Indonesia and New Zealand. Brown pelicans, once driven to extinction by hunting and pesticides, showcase the Endangered Species Act’s success. Pelicans work together corralling fish into shallow waters catching them easily. Pelicans catch fish by accelerating toward them from the sky with accuracy. Besides fish, pelicans eat turtles, crustaceans and tadpoles.
Something unusual, baby pelicans are never seen as they nest far in colonies at inland or remote locations. Pelicans suddenly appear in huge breeding colonies at remote temporarily flooded inland lakes and waterways. Pelicans are social, often hunting and roosting in pods or squadrons. They may work together driving fish toward the surface catching them more easily. Pelicans are powerful flyers, flying long distances, soaring high or gliding above waves. Some migrate at high altitudes. Pelicans dive from high up to catch fish, a technique called plunge-diving.
Pelicans live along coasts, wetlands, lakes and rivers worldwide except Antarctica. Given an ample fish supply and nest sites, pelicans thrive in varied environments. Pelicans catch prey with pouches under their beaks expanding to hold many fish. Mostly white plumaged, some pelicans have gray or brown patches. Their wings often have black tips. Exploring pelicans’ fascinating facts and importance to nature can develop deeper admiration for them.
Where do pelican live?
Pelican is a migratory bird inhabiting southern Europe, along Black Sea shores, thickets of Caspian rivers, Aral Sea, and Africa. European and North African birds fly south to winter. Asian pelicans hibernate in India.
Distribution and habitat include all continents except Antarctica. They inhabit mainly warm regions, extending breeding to 60° North (Canada) and 45° South (Australia).
A brown pelican nest is within reach of others. In East they nest in island trees. They gather sticks in long beaks, weaving nests.
Pelicans live in or near shallow fresh or saltwaters like lakes, wetlands, deltas, estuaries and coasts. Some migrate. Eight pelican species have patchy, seasonal distribution from tropics to temperate zones. Absent from Amazonian South America, polar regions and open ocean. Australian species migrates inland after rains.
Estimated 300,000 brown pelicans. 100,000 white pelicans in North America. 300,000 to 500,000 Australian pelicans across continent. In localized areas like Washington, white pelicans can be rare and endangered.
Two North American species: inland freshwater white pelican and coastal, seagoing brown pelican. Though large, pelicans pose little danger. Known as goofy-looking with huge mouths, they are fierce hunters. Most die from starvation, predators, storms, cold.
Prefer warm regions, breeding up to latitude 60° North and 45° South. Live and hunt in inland and coastal waters. Absent from polar regions and isolated islands. Eight species found on all continents except Antarctica.
Smallest is brown pelican. Live in large flocks year-round. Lifespan 15-43 years for brown pelican, 26 years for white pelican. Serially monogamous. Males settle and defend nests first.
What can pelicans eat?
Pelicans eat fish the most. But sometimes they also eat insects, birds, amphibians, turtles, crustaceans, and small mammals. Their complete diet depends on meat sources. The birds are carnivorous.
Until they can fish for themselves, pelican chicks eat regurgitated fish from their parents’ bills. Pelicans will teach their young how to fish. They provide a mini “pool” in their bills.
It isn’t typical for pelicans to feed on ducks. Ducks can put up a good fight. They have lots of feathers to digest. However, it’s common for pelicans to prey on ducklings and duck eggs when fish supply is low. Pelicans aren’t big birds. Their wingspan reaches 10 feet wide. Because of their small body size, pelicans cannot eat most dogs.
Pelicans are opportunistic feeders. They will eat various fish. It depends on what’s available in their habitat. They eat sardines, anchovies, herring, mullet, and other fish. Besides fish, pelicans have eaten crustaceans, amphibians, and small birds.
The amount of food a pelican eats daily varies. It depends on the species and food availability. On average, a pelican can eat up to 4 pounds of fish daily. Pelicans have a unique digestive system. It allows them to digest their food quickly.
How much does a pelican eat a day?
The amount of food a pelican eats per day varies depending on the species. On average, a pelican can eat up to 4 pounds of fish per day. Pelicans have a muscular stomach that can hold up to three times more than their body size. The stomach has a tough lining that protects it from the sharp bones of the fish. Before swallowing the fish, pelicans move heads forward to remove excess water. They help to control the population of fish in their habitat. From death-defying dives pelicans get fishy feasts. Pelicans eat small to medium sized fish that slide down their throat easily. In some cases, the fish is too big to be swallowed, and the pelican simply starves. Pelicans use thermals for soaring to feed up to 150 km away.