# Australian Pelican (*Pelecanus conspicillatus*) The Australian Pelican is a large bird known for its long beak and big, flappy wings. They love to fish and can often be seen gliding over the water or floating in groups. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Australian Pelican](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/00_3804_Water_bird_pelican.jpg&width=800) Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:00_3804_Water_bird_pelican.jpg) ## Appearance The Australian Pelican is a strikingly large bird, mostly pure white with distinctive black primary and secondary flight feathers. Its enormous, shovel-like bill is usually pale pink to blue-grey, darkening during breeding season, and makes it instantly recognizable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Pelecaniformes - **Family:** Pelecanidae - **Genus:** Pelecanus ## Interesting facts - Its amazing pouch can hold up to 13 litres of water, like a bucket! - Pelican bills change colour dramatically, glowing pink or orange during breeding season! - They sometimes use their large wings to slap the water, scaring fish towards them! - Wow! The longest bird bill in the world belongs to this pelican! ## Special abilities - **Fishing Net Beak:** Australian Pelican has a huge, stretchy pouch attached to its lower bill that helps them scoop up large amounts of fish like a net. - **Sky Sailor:** Australian Pelican can soar effortlessly on thermal currents for hours because of their broad wings, helping them conserve energy. - **Team Fisher:** Australian Pelican can work together to herd fish into shallows because of their cooperative nature, helping them catch more prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 160-190 cm - **Wingspan:** 230-260 cm - **Weight:** 4-8 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-25 years - **Speed:** 56 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-4 - **Incubation:** 28-35 days ## Diet & Feeding These big birds mostly eat fish, using their huge bill and pouch like a scoop! - **Primary Foods:** Fish (various species), Yabbies, Frogs, Tadpoles - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Flathead Mullet (*Mugil cephalus*) — common fish prey in coastal and estuarine waters. - **Hunts:** Mosquitofish (*Gambusia holbrooki*) — invasive fish species often consumed in freshwater habitats. - **Eaten by:** White-bellied Sea-Eagle (*Haliaeetus leucogaster*) — chicks or eggs can be predated by this large raptor. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Watch from a distance and don't try to feed wild birds. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Australian Pelican? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Australian Pelican? 160-190 cm ### What is Australian Pelican's wingspan? 230-260 cm ### How much does Australian Pelican weigh? 4-8 kg ### How long does Australian Pelican live? 10-25 years ### How fast can Australian Pelican move? 56 km/h ### What does Australian Pelican eat? These big birds mostly eat fish, using their huge bill and pouch like a scoop! ### Where is Australian Pelican usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Tierpark Cottbus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-cottbus) — Brandenburg, DE · Zoo ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Australian Pelican: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/australian-pelican)