American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) lives in freshwater lakes across Interior North America, Central America and South America. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the American White Pelican
- Only the American white pelican grows a keratinous horn on its bill during the breeding season, a feature absent in the other seven pelican species. The horn is located about one-third of the bill length behind the tip and is shed after the birds mate and lay their eggs. This temporary structure appears when both sexes develop a pronounced bump on the top of their large beaks, and disappears by the end of the breeding period.
- With a wingspan of about 95-120 in (240-300 cm) the American white pelican has the second-largest average wingspan of any North American bird, after the California condor. This large span enables the bird to use soaring flight for migration easily, allowing it to travel long distances without much flapping. The extensive wings also support its ability to glide over inland lakes and coastal estuaries where it feeds and breeds.
- In the wild these birds can exceed sixteen years of age, a longevity that already places them among the longer-lived North American waterbirds. When kept under human care they can live far longer, with one individual reaching more than thirty-four years, the longest recorded for the species. Their large body size and low-predation adult stage help them achieve such ages, especially when protected from the hazards that affect younger birds.
- Each spring roughly 180,000 American white pelicans - about forty percent of the world's total - migrate north to breed across Canada, spreading from British Columbia's coast to Ontario's Lake Nipigon. Half of this massive influx settles in Manitoba, where the three biggest lakes - Winnipeg, Manitoba and Winnipegosis - host the majority of colonies.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeInterior North America, Central America and South America
HabitatFreshwater lakes
DietFish and crustaceans
About the American White Pelican
As the American White Pelican glides effortlessly across the tranquil waters, its snowy plumage glistens like a beacon of serenity, while its imposing wings, with a span of up to nine feet, propel it with a slow, majestic rhythm. With each deliberate stroke, the pelican's pouched bill slices through the surface, scooping up unsuspecting fish in a masterful display of aquatic acrobatics. In this harmonious dance, the pelican embodies the very essence of its aquatic realm, a true marvel of evolution, where form and function converge in perfect symphony.
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