Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotaluS

Beak

—

Feet

—

Crest

Has a crest

Mainly a winter visitor to N subcontinent; breeds in Gujarat. Adult and immature have black underside to primaries and secondaries which contrast strongly with white (or largely white) underwing - coverts. Feathering of forehead narrower than on Dalmatian Pelican. and tapers to a point at bill-base. Orbital skin is more extensive and contiguous with bill. Legs and feet pinkish. Pouch yellow or orange - yellow (except when youngt. Adult is generally cleaner and whiter than Dalmatian and Spot-billed Pelicans. Adult breeding has white body and wing-coverts tinged with pink, bright orange-yellow pouch and pinkish skin around aye, and short drooping crest. Adult non-breading has duller bare parts and lacks pink tinge and white crest. Immature has variable amounts of brown on wing-coverts and scapulars. Juvenile has largely brown head, neck and upperparts, including upperwing-coverts, and brown flight feathers; upperwing appears more uniform brown, and underwing shows pale central panel contrasting with dark inner coverts and flight feathers; greyish pouch becomes yellower with age. May be found singly, in small flocks or in huge concentrations on larger lakes and lagoons. Often fishes cooperatively by swimming forward in a semicircular formation, driving fish into shallow waters; each bird then scoops up fish from the water into its pouch, before swallowing the food. Roosts in flocks, usually on open sand bars. Large lakes, lagoons and tidal creaks.