Pelicans are fascinating creatures, known for their unique feet, impressive hunting techniques, and large throat pouches that can hold more than just fish.
Here are 10 surprising facts you might not know about these remarkable birds!
1. The Pelican Family Dates Back Over 30 Million Years
The earliest known pelican fossil is a 30-million-year-old skull discovered in France’s Oligocene deposits. Fossils have also been found in Germany, India, Kenya, Peru, Australia, and North Carolina. Today, there are eight living species, found on every continent except Antarctica.
2. Pelicans Don’t Use Their Pouches to Store Food
Many people believe the pelican’s large throat pouch, known as the gular pouch, is for storing food, but that’s a misconception. Popularized by an old limerick, the idea that pelicans store food for later use isn’t accurate. Instead, the pouch is used to catch prey, acting like a fishing net.
3. Pelicans Eat More Than Just Fish
While pelicans are renowned for their fish diet, they’re not strictly pescatarians. In fact, they also eat crustaceans, amphibians, turtles, and even other birds. In 2006, a great white pelican in London was seen swallowing a pigeon whole—something not entirely rare. If it fits in their throat, it’s fair game for these opportunistic feeders.
4. Two Species Dive for Their Food
The brown pelican and its cousin, the Peruvian pelican, have a unique way of hunting. Both species dive from heights, plunging into the ocean at incredible speeds to catch fish. Their sharp eyesight allows them to spot prey from 60 feet above the water. Upon impact, the prey is often stunned, making it easy to scoop up in their pouch.
5. Some Pelicans Hunt in Groups
While many pelicans hunt alone, some species work together in groups. By forming a U-shape and flapping their wings on the water’s surface, they herd fish into tighter clusters or drive them toward shallow waters. This cooperative hunting technique increases the chances of a successful catch.
6. The American White Pelican Grows a Temporary Horn
The American white pelican, native to North America, stands about 4 feet tall with a wingspan of 9 feet. During breeding season, pelicans grow a distinctive yellow or orange horn on the upper bill, which is present from late March to early May. These fibrous structures fall off after breeding, only to regrow the following season.
7. All Four Toes of a Pelican Are Webbed
Pelicans are among the few birds with totipalmate feet, meaning that all four of their toes are connected by webbing. This webbed foot design helps them swim efficiently. Most water birds have webbing only between the three forward-pointing toes, but pelicans, along with cormorants and gannets, have webbing on all toes, making them exceptional swimmers.
8. Pelicans Inspired a Surprising Symbol in Art History
In medieval Europe, a myth emerged that mother pelicans would stab themselves with their beaks and feed their blood to their chicks when food became scarce. This idea likely stemmed from the reddish color of Dalmatian pelican gular pouches during the breeding season, which may have been misinterpreted by onlookers.
9. Pelicans Breathe Through Their Mouths
While pelicans do have nostrils, they’re sealed under the beak’s hard sheath and primarily breathe through their mouths. Their nostrils house specialized glands that filter excess salt from the bloodstream, a vital function for these birds that often ingest seawater. This adaptation allows pelicans to thrive in marine environments without suffering from dehydration or excess salt.
10. Brown Pelicans Have Made an Incredible Comeback
In the mid-20th century, the brown pelican's population took a devastating hit due to the widespread use of DDT. The chemical weakened the eggshells of many bird species, including pelicans, causing a sharp decline in numbers. In 2009, the species was officially removed from the endangered list after years of conservation success, showing the power of environmental protections and restoration programs.
