Pelican Facts & Worksheets

Pelicans, from the genus Pelicanus, are aquatic birds with an extraordinarily long, big beak and a stretchable throat pouch. Pelicans live in lakes, rivers, and seacoasts all over the world except in Antarctica. They primarily feed on fish and include eight species.

See the fact file below for more information on the Pelican, or you can download our 28-page Pelican worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS 

• Pelicans are aquatic birds that belong to the genus Pelicanus in the family Pelicanidae or other Pelecaniformes. 
• Pelicans can be easily recognized because of their extraordinarily long, big beaks as well as stretchable enormous throat pouches. These physical features are useful for catching and eating fish, their primary diet.
• Pelicans also have large bodies, short legs, and webbed feet. Despite this, pelicans swim well.
• Their tails are short and square, and their wings are long and broad. These allow them to glide on air currents.
• Most pelicans have light-colored plumage except for brown and Peruvian pelicans because they have bright feathers. 
• During the breeding season, the bills, pouches, and facial skin of pelicans become brightly colored.
• Most of them develop a knob on the upper part of their bills, which eventually falls off when the breeding season is over.
• Pelicans are large species, but male pelicans are larger than female birds.
• The dalmatian pelican weighs up to 15 kilograms, is 72 inches long, has a wingspan of around 3.5 meters, and is believed to be the largest pelican.
• The smallest pelican, on the other hand, is the brown pelican, which can be as little as 2.75 kilograms, 42 inches long, and has a wingspan of 1.83 meters.
• Pelicans have the largest beaks, which can reach up to 18 inches and can hold three gallons of water.
• The Australian pelican has the longest beak in the world at 19.2 inches long.
• The gular, or the large pouch underneath the pelican’s beak, is its most unique feature.
• Pelicans primarily use this to scoop up fish and drain the water that comes with it, but other pelicans use it to cool themselves by swinging it back and forth during warm days.
• The upper part of their beak has a downward hook used to catch fish.

HABITAT AND BEHAVIOR

• Pelicans typically live in freshwater, estuarine, and marine wetlands and waterways, which include lakes, swamps, rivers, coastal islands, and shores.
• Pelicans can be found on all continents except Antarctica. 
• They usually live in warm climates but can also survive in temperate climate types with defined seasons. 
• They like to crowd on islands whenever possible. 
• Pelicans are extremely social birds that they migrate and fish in flocks.
• Pelicans fly in either a U, a V shape formation, or a straight line. 
• They also like to be around other birds like cormorants or flamingos.
• Both sexes of the pelicans are with their group throughout the year together with their young. 
• Their groups are known by several names, including brief, pod, pouch, squadron, and scoop.
• The young pelicans or chicks are generally quite vocal before they leave their nest.
• Adults usually communicate by using their wings and beaks.
• Whenever pelicans are not eating, they spend their time sleeping, sunbathing, or preening. 
• At dusk, they sleep with their heads resting on their shoulders, eyes closed, and feathers ruffled against cold.
• To express displeasure, pelicans hiss through gaping their bills.
• Some pelicans clap their beaks while looking up or gape, bow, and wag their heads to defend their territory. 
• While in their breeding colony, pelicans become vocal and grunt to express excitement.

FOOD AND EATING HABITS

• Pelicans are carnivores and primarily eat fish. 
• Pelicans position themselves and chase fish into the shallow water by hitting the water’s surface with their wings. 
• When the pelicans see the fish congregate in the shallows, they scoop them up.
• The pelicans catch multiple fish by expanding their throat pouch and draining them before eating them.
• Aside from fish, pelicans also eat other aquatic animals like tadpoles, turtles, and crustaceans. 
• They may also accept food handed out by humans.
• When pelicans catch food, they toss the food in their bill until the prey typically has its head pointing down their throats.
• Pelicans can be by themselves or with their flock.
• Young pelicans retrieve food from their parents’ throats using their bills.

REPRODUCTION AND BREEDING BEHAVIOR

• Pelicans are also colonial breeders, yet during this season, the male pelicans are monogamous. 
• Breeding begins with courtship. 
• Both male and female pelicans use various tactics to attract potential partners.
• Male pelicans change the color of their pouch and neck covers.
• Female pelicans, on the other hand, lead potential mates around the colony.
• As the male pelicans follow the female pelican, they threaten each other by swinging their open bills from side to side to attract the female’s attention. They may also pick up small objects like dry fish or sticks, which they repeatedly toss in the air.
• After several pursuits, only one male will remain, and the female leads him to the potential nest site.
• Both are involved in building their nest, which usually consists of feathers, leaves, and sticks.
• This is where copulation occurs, and three to 10 days later, eggs are laid. 
• Female pelicans can lay anywhere from one to six eggs depending on the species, and these eggs take 30 to 36 days to incubate.
• Both parents incubate the egg by staying on top of them.
• Hatchling chicks are naked and pink and eventually turn gray to black within 14 days. A covering of white or gray down follows. 
• The first-hatched chick is usually bigger than the rest.
• When chicks are about 25 days old, they begin to gather with other young birds. Even if this is the case, the parents recognize and only feed their offspring.
• By two months, they try to go farther and swim occasionally. They sometimes practice communal feeding. 
• By 12 weeks, they leave their nest. It is also expected that they will have learned how to fly. 
• At three to four years of age, pelicans become sexually mature. 
• Pelicans can survive from 25 to 30 years in the wild.

SPECIES OF PELICANS

• The first type of pelican is the brown pelican or Pelecanus occidentalis, which is considered to be the smallest pelican. The length of the type ranges from 1 to 1.5 meters.
• Brown pelicans inhabit the southern and western coastal areas of the U.S. They breed in Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and Belize.
• Brown pelicans have white plumage on the head and neck, a yellowish crown, black legs, dark brown and gray-streaked back tails and rumps, and a large bill with a complex color pattern.
• The Peruvian pelican or Pelecanus thagus is a type of pelican bird that lives on South America’s west coast. 
• Peruvian pelicans look similar to brown pelicans except that they are remarkably larger. Their size ranges from 4.5 to 5 feet, and they have a wingspan of more than two meters.
• Its head and neck are whitish. Their long beak is yellowish and reddish, while their legs are gray.
• During the reproductive season, their backs turn dark.
• The great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) is also known as the common pelican. 
• These pelicans have a huge white plumage, pinkish legs, and bare pinkish or orangey skin around the eyes.
• Their bill is also brightly colored.
• This type of pelican inhabits parts of Asia, Africa, and southwestern Europe. 
• Their length extends from 1.4 to 1.8 meters, with a wingspan ranging from 2.26 to 3.6 meters.
• Australian Pelicans or Pelecanus conspicillatus are species found in Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and parts of Indonesia. 
• The Australian pelican is known for having the longest bill, hence its scientific name, which means conspicuous in Latin. The longest bill recorded was 50 cm long.
• They feed on fish as their primary diet, so they live in areas where fish are abundant. 
• Occasionally, they eat smaller birds and scraps.
• Australian pelicans are predominantly white, but their wings are black.
• Pink-backed pelicans, also known as Pelicanus rufescens, are considered one of the smallest birds, with their length ranging from 1.25 to 1.55 meters.
• Pink-backed pelicans have gray to white plumage. Adults have slightly more pinkish back and lower parts.
• Their bill is yellow at the top, while their pouch is grayish in color.
• During the breeding season, the head of the adult pelican has long feather plumes.
• They inhabit Africa, southern India, and southern Arabia.
• They nest near swamps and shallow lakes.
• Dalmatian pelicans or Pelecanus crispus is the largest species of pelicans, growing as large as 33 pounds with an 11 ½ foot wingspan.
• They are considered the world’s heaviest flying species. They are also famous for their elegant flight and graceful synchrony with their flock during their flight.
• They can sometimes be confused with the spiky-billed pelican and the great white pelican, but they have a pale iris, pale pink beak, and gray legs.
• Dalmatian pelicans build their nests near swamps, shallow lakes, and lagoons.
• They are labeled as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List because of destruction, degradation, and poaching, which threatens their existence.
• The next type of pelican is the Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, also known as the American white pelican.
• It is one of the largest birds in North America and has a size ranging from 1.3 to 1.8 meters with a wingspan of 2.7 meters.
• American white pelicans inhabit the interior regions of North America, but during the winter season, they migrate to the warmer areas of Central and South America.
• They have white plumage and rough bills.
• Unlike other pelicans, they catch their prey while swimming in the water.
• The Pelecanus philippensis, also known as the gray pelican or spot-billed pelican, inhabits parts of South and Southeast Asia.
• The gray pelicans’ length ranges from 1.25 to 1.52 meters.
• They have white plumage, brown tails, and gray chest and hind neck. Their bill pouch is pink to purplish and features large pale spots.
• They build their nest on low trees.

Pelican Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Pelican across 28 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Pelican, a large water bird with a long beak, conspicuous throat pouch and mainly grey-brown plumage and typically found near coastal areas throughout much of the world, often in large flocks.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

• Desert Ecosystem Facts
• Pool of Characteristics
• True or False
• Types of Desert
• Identification
• Famous Deserts
• Check Out This Desert
• One Desert
• Tourist in a Desert
• Care for a Desert
• An Oasis of Thought

Frequently Asked Questions About the Pelican

What is a pelican?

A pelican is a large waterbird with a long beak, conspicuous throat pouch, and mainly grey-brown plumage. These birds are typically found near coastal areas worldwide, often in large flocks. They feed primarily on fish and other aquatic creatures, which they catch by diving into the water and scooping them up into their bill pouch.

Where can I spot them?

Pelicans can be spotted in many parts of the world near coastlines, such as in the US states of California, Florida, and Texas; in Mexico and Central America; throughout Europe; Africa (in countries such as South Africa and Nigeria); Asia (in places like India and China); Australia; New Zealand; and many Pacific islands.

What do they eat?

Pelicans primarily eat fish they catch from the water using their large bill pouches to scoop up their prey. Depending on availability, they may also supplement their diet with frogs, small mammals, crustaceans, insects, lizards, or carrion.

How social are they?

Pelicans are highly social birds that tend to congregate in large flocks near shorelines where food is abundant. Within these flocks are complex social hierarchies, with some individuals dominating over others regarding access to food sources or nesting sites, for example.

Are pelicans endangered?

There are six pelican species worldwide – four occur naturally in Africa, while two exist further afield (Californian Brown Pelican & Peruvian Pelican). Sadly three out of these six species have been classified as being vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss or human activities such as overfishing or hunting – the Dalmatian Pelican, the White Pelican, and the Peruvian Pelican all fall into this category, according to BirdLife International’s latest assessment published in 2015.

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