Birds
Great white pelican
Pelecanus onocrotalus
The great white pelican is a large waterbird with the characteristic gular pouch it uses like a net to scoop up fish. In the breeding season its plumage takes on pinkish hues.
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In short
The great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) is a species with IUCN conservation status LC (Least concern). It lives in shallow lakes, lagoons, deltas and marshes, where it nests in large colonies. Animals in Black offers a fine-art portrait of it on a black background, available as a print on Hahnemühle paper: view the print.
Habitat & conservation
Where does the great white pelican live?
It lives in shallow lakes, lagoons, deltas and marshes, where it nests in large colonies. It often fishes cooperatively: several birds swim in a circle to herd fish toward the centre.
Is the great white pelican endangered?
The IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern (LC) over a wide range. Locally it depends on a few key wetlands, threatened by drainage, disturbance to colonies and changes in water regimes.
Facts about the great white pelican
- The gular pouch works like a living fishing net.
- It often fishes in groups, herding fish into a circle.
- In the breeding season its plumage turns pinkish.
Data source: IUCN Red List — Pelecanus onocrotalus (Least Concern) · BirdLife International
RED List
Conservation status codes
- EX Extinct No individuals survive.
- EW Extinct in the wild Survives only in captivity.
- CR Critically endangered Extremely high risk of extinction.
- EN Endangered Very high risk of extinction.
- VU Vulnerable High risk of extinction.
- NT Near threatened Likely to become threatened soon.
- LC Least concern Low risk of extinction.
- DD Data deficient Not enough data to assess.
- NE Not evaluated Not yet assessed by the IUCN.