Australian Pelican
Pelecanus conspicillatus
The Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) is a common pelican found in 9 countries, weighing about 5.5 kg. The Australian pelican is a large waterbird in the family Pelecanidae, widespread on the inland and coastal waters of Australia and New Guinea, also in Fiji, parts of Indonesia and as a vagrant in New Zealand.
About the Australian Pelican
The Australian pelican is a large waterbird in the family Pelecanidae, widespread on the inland and coastal waters of Australia and New Guinea, also in Fiji, parts of Indonesia and as a vagrant in New Zealand. It is a predominantly white bird with black wings and a pink bill. It has been recorded as having the longest bill of any living bird. It mainly eats fish, but will also consume birds and scavenge for scraps if the opportunity arises.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Australian pelican is medium-sized by pelican standards, with a wingspan of 2.3 to 2.6 m (7.5 to 8.5 ft). Weight can range from 4 to 13 kg (8.8 to 28.7 lb), although most of these pelicans weigh between 4.54 and 7.7 kg (10.0 and 17.0 lb). The average weight of four unsexed Australian pelicans was 5.5 kg (12 lb), making this the second heaviest Australian flying bird species on average, after the brolga, although the male of the more sexually dimorphic Australian bustard weighs a bit more at average and maximum weights (both birds are, of course, much smaller than the cassowary and emu).
What the Australian Pelican sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Belgium, New Zealand, Singapore, Solomon Islands.
When to see it
The Australian Pelican can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Australian Pelican?
- The Australian pelican is medium-sized by pelican standards, with a wingspan of 2.3 to 2.6 m (7.5 to 8.5 ft). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Australian Pelican?
- The Australian Pelican is a huge sized bird weighing about 5.5 kg.
- Where can you see an Australian Pelican?
- The Australian Pelican occurs in 9 countries, including Australia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.
- What does an Australian Pelican sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Australian Pelican on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to an Australian Pelican?
- The Australian Pelican is most easily confused with the Great White Pelican, the Spot-billed Pelican and the Peruvian Pelican.
- Is the Australian Pelican endangered?
- The Australian Pelican is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Australian Pelican for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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