The pelican's long bill and large pouch are among its trademark features.
According to fossil records, pelicans have been on the Earth for over 30 million years. Pelicans are large birds with a retractable pouch on the bottom half of their beak for fishing and an incredible wing span that allows them to fly long distances and hunt at least a pound of fish per day. Found in many parts of the world, each pelican has breeding and migratory patterns specific to its species.
Brown Pelican
Brown pelicans, found on the western coast of the U.S., are the smallest type of pelican; the Peruvian pelican is often considered a subgroup of the brown pelican. Brown pelicans flock together to hunt and have a remarkable ability to spot fish from as high as 60 feet in the air. Females generally lay three eggs, but both adults share in the incubation responsibilities. The brown pelican's beak can hold up to two gallons of water, and this species can live for up to 40 years.
American White Pelican
The American white pelican, the only other type of pelican that lives in the U.S., is found around the Midwest and more commonly seen than the brown pelican. These pelicans tend to breed further north in Canada and northern California and migrate to southern California and Mexico when not breeding. The life expectancy of the American white pelican is 10 to 20 years.
Dalmatian Pelican
The dalmation pelican is the largest of pelicans, and one of the rarest -- major conservation efforts are underway to preserve the life of this species. Native to the Middle East and Eastern Europe, the dalmation pelican has a recognizable white body, black-tipped wings and bright orange beak.
Australian Pelican
The Australian pelican is believed to have the longest bill of all the pelican breeds; it is also thought to have the largest population total, although estimations of numbers can vary widely. With a life expectancy of 10 to 25 years, the Australian pelican is found all over Australia, as its name suggests. It is recognizable by its white body, black wings and light pink beak.
Great White Pelican
The great white pelican is found in southern parts of Europe and Asia as well as western and southern Africa; the largest collection of these pelicans is on Lake Rukwa in Tanzania. Due to pollution, these pelicans often have to fly far distances to find enough food. The great white pelican lives up to its name with whitish feathers covering its body and wings.
Pink-Backed Pelican
The pink-backed pelican has pale, grayish plumage; it is one of the smaller species within the pelican family. It prefers to live in freshwater lakes, lagoons and sheltered coastal waters, like creeks. Pink-backed pelicans are primarily found in northern and sub-Saharan Africa.
Spot-Billed Pelican
The spot-billed pelican, along with the dalmatian pelican, is one of the rarer breeds; it mainly lives in India, Sri Lanka and Cambodia. Declining population numbers due to deforestation have commenced conservation efforts to increase the numbers of this species. The spot-billed pelican is aptly named, as it has brown spots on its beak and grayish plumage.
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