Great White Pelican: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Herons, Egrets and Pelicans · day 7 of 7

Five facts

1. Great white pelicans fish as a team. A group of 6 to 8 forms a horseshoe and dips their bills at the same moment, trapping fish in a ring of pouches.
2. The pouch works like a scoop. It balloons with water and fish, then squeezes the water out as the pelican lifts its head, keeping the fish.
3. Early in the morning it leaves its roost to fish. In Chad and Cameroon, these pelicans have been seen flying over 100 km in search of food.
4. In the breeding season, its white feathers get a pink tinge. The male's bare face skin turns pinkish, and the female's turns orange.
5. Migrating flocks can be huge: more than 75,000 have been counted in Israel, and over 45,000 may spend the winter in Pakistan.

The quiz

1. What shape do great white pelicans form when they fish together?

• A straight line
• A horseshoe (correct)
• A tight ball
• A zigzag

Groups of 6 to 8 gather in a horseshoe and dip their bills together.

2. What does the pelican's pouch do when it lifts its head?

• It squeezes out the water and keeps the fish (correct)
• It stores the fish for a week
• It lets the fish swim away
• It fills up with air to float

The pouch contracts, pushing out the water while holding on to the fish.

3. How far have great white pelicans been seen flying to find food?

• About 1 km
• About 5 km
• Over 100 km (correct)
• Over 5,000 km

In Chad and Cameroon, they have flown over 100 km in search of food.

4. In the breeding season, what colour is the female's face skin?

• Blue
• Black
• Green
• Orange (correct)

The male's face skin is pinkish and the female's is orangey.

5. In which country have more than 75,000 migrating great white pelicans been counted?

• Israel (correct)
• Iceland
• Japan
• Brazil

More than 75,000 of these pelicans have been seen in Israel on migration.

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