How do great white pelicans catch fish?

Groups of 5 to 10 birds work together to herd schools of fish into shallow water, cutting off their escape and then scooping them up simultaneously with their large throat pouches.

How big is the great white pelican's wingspan?

Its wingspan ranges from about 226 to 360 cm, among the largest of any bird, and it is the second-largest pelican species after the Dalmatian pelican.

Great White Pelicanモモイロペリカン

Pelecanus onocrotalusLC— Least Concern

The great white pelican is one of the largest pelican species, a huge fish-eating waterbird found across swamps and lakes from southeastern Europe through Asia and Africa. It hunts cooperatively in groups, herding fish into shallow water before scooping them up together, and shows striking sexual dimorphism, with males roughly 30% heavier than females.

Great White Pelican (reference photo) — Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Pelecaniformes / Pelecanidae Source
Distribution: Breeds from southeastern Europe through Asia and Africa in swamps and shallow lakes; migratory populations winter from northeastern Africa through Iraq to northern India, while an African population of about 75,000 pairs is resident. Source

Did You Know?

Groups of 5 to 10 birds cooperatively herd schools of fish, cutting off their escape before scooping them up together with their throat pouches. Source
On South Africa's Dassen Island, breeding great white pelicans have been observed swallowing Cape gannet chicks whole to feed to their own young. Source

Where to See This Species

12 facilities · 0 individuals

アドベンチャーワールド (Adobencha World)WakayamaOpened in 1978

アドベンチャーワールドのWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

サンシャイン水族館 (Sanshain Suizokukan)Tokyo池袋駅（35番出口）からサンシャイン60通りを通って来館。

サンシャイン水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

ノースサファリサッポロ (Nosusafarisapporo)Hokkaido

ノースサファリサッポロのWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Asahiyama ZooHokkaidoOpened in 1967

旭川市旭山動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

伊豆シャボテン動物公園 (Izushaboten Doubutsu Kouen)ShizuokaOpened in 1959

伊豆シャボテン動物公園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Kamogawa Sea WorldChiba東京駅から特急わかしおで約2時間、JR「安房鴨川」駅下車後、無料送迎バス（西口バス停発）で約10分。

鴨川シーワールドのWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

札幌市円山動物園 (Sapporoshimaruyama Doubutsuen)HokkaidoOpened in 1951

札幌市円山動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

小樽水族館 (Otaru Suizokukan)HokkaidoOpened in 1958

小樽水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Toba AquariumMieOpened in 1955

鳥羽水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

東武動物公園 (Toubu Doubutsu Kouen)Saitama東武動物公園駅（西口）下車、徒歩10分（600m）またはバス約5分。

東武動物公園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical GardensAichiOpened in 1937

名古屋市東山動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

和歌山城公園動物園 (Wakayamajou Kouen Doubutsuen)Wakayama

和歌山城公園動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNではLC（低懸念）です。

Habitat

湖、潟湖、河口、湿地。

Threats

湿地の減少
水質汚染
漁業との競合

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

湿地と繁殖地の保全
水質の改善
飼育下での教育展示

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

Support Conservation

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Visit: A visit itself helps support the facility.
Animal Supporter Programs & Giving: Find ways to support the facility through its official website.
Furusato Nozei: Municipally run facilities may share official guidance for this Japanese hometown-tax program.

FAQ

How do great white pelicans catch fish?: Groups of 5 to 10 birds work together to herd schools of fish into shallow water, cutting off their escape and then scooping them up simultaneously with their large throat pouches. Source
How big is the great white pelican's wingspan?: Its wingspan ranges from about 226 to 360 cm, among the largest of any bird, and it is the second-largest pelican species after the Dalmatian pelican. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org