One of the 8 pelicans on WAnimals
Birds · Pelecaniformes · Pelecanidae
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Least Concern
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
A very large soaring waterbird, white apart from the primaries and secondaries, which are black and show mainly in flight. The bill is orange, very large and broad. In the breeding season it grows a horny crest on the upper mandible, a feature unique to this species. Both sexes look alike, though the male is somewhat larger.
Weight
5 kg – 9 kg
Size
1.2 m – 1.8 m
Diet
Piscivore
Feeds mainly on fish.
