The pelicans (family Pelecanidae) are a family of birds belonging to the order Pelecaniformes. These charismatic birds are among the largest flying birds in the world, leading in wingspan and weight. Their long bills have a characteristic pouch that they use for fishing in the tropical and temperate wetlands they live in. They are gregarious, generally breeding in large colonies on trees and hunting cooperatively. Some species are migratory, often flying over large distances. Although most species are light in plumage, two have brown plumage.
The family comprises 8 species belonging to the genus Pelecanus, of which 3 are confined to the New World, 1 to Australasia, 1 is Afrotropical, 1 is endemic to the Indomalayan realm and the other 2 occur between Africa, Europe and Asia.
Lake Oloiden near Naivasha, Kenya, 2 Feb 2024
Great white pelican
Pelecanus onocrotalus
Local in swamps and shallow lakes of Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, with a large proportion of the population migrating throughout the range, reaching as far as Indochina. Unlike for other pelicans, males are significantly larger than females. I have seen flocks of this species in Kenya and Greece.
Lake Oloiden near Naivasha, Kenya, 2 Feb 2024
Pink-backed pelican
Pelecanus rufescens
Found in swamps across Subsaharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and now extirpated from Madagascar. Overall gray in plumage, with the pinkish back mostly visible with open wings. I have encountered this species in Kenya.
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary near Mysore, Karnataka, India, 1 Jan 2025
Spot-billed pelican
Pelecanus philippensis
Near threatened pelican found in marshes and wetlands from the Indian Subcontinent through Southeast Asia to South China and Sumatra. Uniquely among pelicans, the upper mandible is covered in fine spots. I have seen this species in a colony and foraging at rice paddies in India.
Lake Kerkini, Central Macedonia, Greece, 11 Dec 2024
Dalmatian pelican
Pelecanus crispus
Near threatened pelican mostly found in Central Asia, with disjunct populations in Eastern Europe and a wintering range reaching the Nile Delta, the Indian Subcontinent or East China. It is the largest pelican and one of the largest soaring birds, with a wingspan of 2.7 – 3.2 m and weighing 10 – 12 kg. I have seen flocks of this species in Greece.
