Pelecanus onocrotalus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular names
English : Great white pelican
French : Pélican blanc

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Pelecaniformes
Family : Pelecanidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Body length up to 175 cm for a weight of 15 kg, wingspan of 360 cm. Plumage mostly white with pink tinge on wings and black flight feathers. Very small nuchal crest. Males with forehead hump. Naked face skin yellow-orange to pink.

Range and habitat
The species breeds locally from south-east Europe to north India and Kazakhstan. It winters in tropical Africa and locally in southern Asia. Lives in fresh and brackish water lakes, lagoons and marshes.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is locally threatened such as in eastern Europe where pollution, disturbance, persecution and rarefaction of preys are great threats.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America

Observation

 

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