American White Pelican: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Wings over Water · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. When breeding, males and females grow a flat horn on the bill. It is the only one of the eight pelican species with one, and it falls off later.
2. Its wings span 240 to 300 cm. In North America, only the California condor has a bigger average wingspan, and it lets the pelican soar when migrating.
3. Unlike the brown pelican, it does not dive for food. Groups of a dozen or more swim together to herd fish for each other.
4. It sometimes steals fish from gulls and cormorants. Once, one even took a fish from a great blue heron while both birds were flying.
5. Young pelicans spend about a month together in a group called a pod. There they grow new feathers and learn to fly.

The quiz

1. What grows on the American white pelican's bill in the breeding season?

• A row of teeth
• A flat horn (correct)
• A bright blue crest
• A second pouch

Both sexes grow a flat horn on the upper bill, which they later shed.

2. Which North American bird has a bigger average wingspan than the American white pelican?

• The bald eagle
• The great blue heron
• The California condor (correct)
• The snow goose

It has the second-largest average wingspan in North America, after the California condor.

3. How does the American white pelican catch its food?

• While swimming, often in teams (correct)
• By diving from high in the air
• By hunting on land at night
• By spearing fish with its bill horn

It does not dive but catches prey while swimming, often herding fish in groups.

4. From which bird did a white pelican once steal a fish in mid-air?

• A bald eagle
• An osprey
• A seagull
• A great blue heron (correct)

In one case it took a fish from a great blue heron while both were flying.

5. What is a pod of young pelicans?

• A floating nest of reeds
• A group where young birds stay while learning to fly (correct)
• A type of egg
• A pelican's throat pouch

Young pelicans spend about a month in a pod, growing feathers and learning to fly.

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