FaunaHub

Pelican

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A brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) with a large throat pouch, resting near water.

Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis).

Image: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Pelicans are large waterbirds famous for the enormous stretchy pouch beneath their long bill, which they use to scoop up fish. There are several species in the genus Pelecanus. This page is a group-level overview; the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is used as a familiar reference. Pelicans are strong fliers and graceful gliders despite their size.

Habitat & Range

Pelicans live in and around water — coasts, estuaries, lakes, and inland wetlands — across much of the world except the polar regions. The brown pelican is a coastal species of the Americas, while others, such as the great white and Dalmatian pelicans, frequent inland and wetland habitats. Habitat and range vary by species.

Diet

Pelicans feed mainly on fish, which they capture using the throat pouch as a net before draining the water and swallowing the catch. Some species, including the brown pelican, plunge-dive dramatically from the air, while others fish cooperatively from the surface in groups. Diet varies by species; this page describes general feeding ecology.

Behavior

Pelicans are social, often nesting in colonies and travelling in orderly lines or V-formations. They soar well on broad wings. Fishing style is a key behavioural difference — plunge-diving in the brown pelican versus cooperative surface fishing in some white pelicans. They preen carefully to maintain waterproof plumage. Behaviour varies among the pelican species.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Pelicans are wild birds, not pets, and are protected by wildlife law in many places. The brown pelican is a notable conservation success story, having recovered after past declines linked to pesticides, though pelicans remain vulnerable to entanglement, pollution, and habitat loss. Conservation status varies by species and should be checked against current sources. Observe pelicans from a respectful distance and do not feed or disturb them.

Appearance & Recognition

Pelicans are unmistakable: very large birds with a long bill and a distinctive expandable throat pouch, broad wings, and short legs with fully webbed feet. The brown pelican is a grey-brown coastal species, while other pelicans are mostly white. Size, the huge pouch, and the soaring flight on broad wings make pelicans easy to recognise as a group.

Similar Animals

Pelicans are related to other waterbirds such as herons, ibises, and the gannets and cormorants. Their unique pouch sets them apart from the swans, storks, and flamingos covered on FaunaHub, with which they share wetland habitats but only distant kinship.

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More photos of the pelican

A brown pelican in flight low over the sea.

A brown pelican in flight.

Image: Mike Baird, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Pelican

What is a pelican's pouch for?
The stretchy throat pouch acts like a net to scoop up fish along with water. The pelican then drains the water out of the sides of its bill before swallowing the fish. The pouch is not used to store food for later.
Do all pelicans dive for fish?
No. The brown pelican is well known for plunge-diving from the air, but several other pelican species fish cooperatively from the surface, herding fish in groups rather than diving. Fishing style varies by species.
Are pelicans endangered?
It varies by species. The brown pelican recovered strongly after past pesticide-related declines, but pelicans still face threats such as entanglement and habitat loss, and some species are of greater concern. Check current IUCN sources for specific status.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.