Greater White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)

Eight species of pelicans live in the world. The biggest one is Dalmatian Pelican and the least one is Brown Pelican as well as the most common. Greater White Pelican was the only one of two european species which was repeatedly observed in the Czech Republic.



Pelicans belong to the heaviest birds. They have very long and narrow wings which enable them to glide in the air for a couple of hours. Their black remiges contain the pigment melanin which mechanically strengthen the feather.



Pelicans feed mainly on fish. During fishing, they are able to collaborate in the group. Usually, they gather around the flock of the fish at the water surface and then, they capture the fish to their pocket. When they swallow the fish, they have to handle it till they swallow the animal headfirst. Otherwise, the fish´s bone rays can jam in the bird´s throat and the bird can, then, choke down.



Some pelican species can nest in the ground (island in the wetland), whereas others built their nests in the trees. Their nestlings hatch non-feathered and they are fully dependent on their parents.