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Birds
Great white pelican
Great white pelican · Pelecanus onocrotalus
Great white pelicans impress with their powerful bill and white to pinkish plumage at the shallow lakes and wetlands of south-eastern Europe.
Fact file
- Size
- Up to 15 kg in weight and 1.60 m in length with a wingspan of up to 3.5 m
- Males and females
- Sexes difficult to distinguish by appearance, males usually slightly larger
- Sounds
- Deep, hoarse barking calls, especially during the breeding season
- Diet
- Mainly fish, occasionally amphibians and small invertebrates
- Offspring
- Two to three eggs per clutch, chicks are raised together in colonies
How to identify Great white pelican
Great white pelicans are unmistakable even from a distance, with their bright white to cream-coloured plumage and delicate pinkish sheen. Particularly striking is their massive yellow bill with its slightly stretchable throat pouch, which they use when fishing. In breeding plumage the pink colouration intensifies and the face takes on a slightly reddish tone.
With a wingspan of up to 3.5 metres, great white pelicans are among the largest waterbirds in Europe. Their powerful body stands on short, pink-coloured legs. Their build appears bulky, but thanks to their long wings and strong neck, great white pelicans are excellent soaring fliers.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
- 3 places where you can see Great white pelican
Where Great white pelican live
Namibia
Discover Great white pelican on your trip.
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