pelicans

Pelicans are a group of large water birds in the genus Pelecanus, belonging to the family Pelecanidae. They are best known for their long beaks and a distinctive elastic throat pouch that can expand to hold fish and water. Pelicans occur on every continent except Antarctica, inhabiting coastal areas, estuaries, deltas, lakes, and rivers. There are eight living species, including the American white pelican, brown pelican, great white pelican, Dalmatian pelican, pink-backed pelican, spot-billed pelican, Peruvian pelican, and Australian pelican.

Pelicans are typically large birds with mostly white or gray plumage; some species have brown or dark flight feathers. The throat pouch is a flexible, expandable organ used for catching and draining water from prey before swallowing. They are strong fliers and often form sizeable, noisy breeding colonies near feeding grounds. Feeding behavior varies by species: many pelicans swim to scoop fish with their bills, while the brown pelican is known for dramatic plunge diving from the air.

Reproduction occurs in colonies that nest in trees, on cliffs, or on the ground near water. Clutch size and nesting duration differ among species, and both parents participate in incubation and chick rearing. Chicks are fed by regurgitated fish delivered by their parents and become independent after a period of growth that varies by species.

Conservation status varies by species and region. While some pelican populations are stable or increasing due to wetland protections, others have declined from habitat loss, pollution, and disturbance. Pelicans remain a visible symbol of coastal and inland aquatic ecosystems.