The White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) is a member of the pelican family. It breeds from southeastern Europe through Asia in swamps and shallow lakes. The tree nest is a crude heap of vegetation.
This is a large pelican, at 160cm length and with a 280cm wingspan. It differs from the Dalmatian Pelican by its pure white, rather than greyish-white, plumage, a bare pink facial patch around the eye and pinkish legs. Immature birds are grey and have dark flight feathers.
This pelican migrates short distances, wintering in northeast Africa. In flight, it is an elegant soaring bird, with the neck is then held back like a heron's.
Pelicans catch fish in their huge bill pouches, most, like this species, while swimming at the surface.
Like the Dalmatian Pelican, this species has declined greatly through habitat loss and persecution.
Modern pelicans are found on all continents except Antarctica: they are birds of inland and coastal waters and are absent from polar regions, the deep ocean, oceanic islands, and inland South America.
In medieval Europe, the pelican was thought to be particularly attentive to her young, to the point of providing her own blood when no other food was available.
As a result the pelican became a symbol in bestiaries for self-sacrifice, and was used as a symbol in heraldry ("a pelican in her piety").
Modern pelicans are found on all continents except Antarctica: they are birds of inland and coastal waters and are absent from polar regions, the deep ocean, oceanic islands, and inland South America.
In medieval Europe, the pelican was thought to be particularly attentive to her young, to the point of providing her own blood when no other food was available.
As a result the pelican became a symbol in bestiaries for self-sacrifice, and was used as a symbol in heraldry ("a pelican in her piety").
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