Australian pelican

Pelecanus conspicillatus · The Australian pelican is a large white waterbird with black wings and a pink bill, found on inland and coastal waters of Australia and New Guinea.

Australian pelican
Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/), CC BY-SA 3.0
Australian pelican
Photo: Andrew Mercer (www.baldwhiteguy.co.nz), CC BY-SA 4.0
Australian pelican
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderPelecaniformes
FamilyPelecanidae
GenusPelecanus
SpeciesPelecanus conspicillatus

Where it lives

Inland and coastal waters from Tasmania to New Guinea, including the outback.

Fun facts

  • The Australian pelican has the largest bill of any bird, and the record-sized bill was 50 cm (20 in) long.
  • Australian pelicans work as a team, driving fish into shallow water and then snatching them up with their sensitive bills.
  • Pelicans sometimes eat other birds, and may drown them by pinning them underwater.
  • Reportedly, these pelicans have even swallowed small dogs.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).