American White Pelican
The American White Pelican is a massive and elegant bird native to the inland lakes and rivers of North America. It is one of the largest birds in North America, with a wingspan of up to 9 feet. It is known for its beautiful white plumage and its enormous, expandable bill pouch.
Unlike the Brown Pelican, which dives for its prey, the American White Pelican fishes in a cooperative manner. They form a line on the water and work together to herd fish into a shallow area, where they can easily scoop them up in their pouches.
They are highly social birds that live in large colonies and are a true sight to behold.
American White Pelican
Classification
Aves > Pelecaniformes > Pelecanidae > Pelecanus > P. erythrorhynchos
Native To
Conservation Status
Average Height
4 - 5.5 feet
(1.2 - 1.7 m)
Average Weight
11 - 20 lbs
(5 - 9.1 kg)
Average Life Span
16 - 34 years
Gestation Period
30 days
Did You Know?
The American White Pelican is one of the largest birds in North America, with a wingspan of up to 10 feet.
Unlike many other pelicans, the American White Pelican does not dive for fish; instead, they often fish cooperatively, herding fish into shallow water.
Their large throat pouch can hold up to 3 gallons of water, which they use to scoop up fish.
During breeding season, American White Pelicans develop a fibrous horn on the upper part of their bill, which is shed after mating.
They migrate long distances, often traveling thousands of miles between their breeding grounds in the interior of North America and their wintering grounds along the coasts.
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