Bird Guide

Australian Pelican vs Spot-billed Pelican

Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)

Australian Pelican

Pelecanus conspicillatus

Huge5.5 kgWetland

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).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Australian Pelican
Recorded by Rob Nicholson · Call · Sandy Camp Road Wetlands Reserve (near Wynnum West), Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia · CC BY 4.0
Photo: Kathleen · CC BY 4.0
Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)

Spot-billed Pelican

Pelecanus philippensis

Huge5.0 kgWetland

The spot-billed pelican is a rather large water bird, often the largest or one of the largest native birds in the southern stretches of its range, albeit it is fairly small for a pelican. It is 125–152 cm (49–60 in) long and a weight of 4.1–6 kg (9.0–13.2 lb). The wingspan can vary from 213 to 250 cm (7 ft 0 in to 8 ft 2 in) while the typically large beak measured from 285 to 355 mm (11.2 to 14.0 in). It is mainly white, with a grey crest, hindneck and a brownish tail. The feathers on the hind neck are curly and form a greyish nape crest.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Daniel S. Katz · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Australian Pelican and Spot-billed Pelican.