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ID tip
The great white pelican is a huge bird—only the Dalmatian pelican is, on average, larger among pelicans. It measures 140 to 180 cm (55 to 71 in) in length with a 28.9 to 47.1 cm (11.4 to 18.5 in) enormous pink and yellow bill, and a dull pale-yellow gular pouch. The wingspan measures 226 to 360 cm (7 ft 5 in to 11 ft 10 in), the latter measurement being the highest among extant flying animals outside of the great albatross.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Great White Pelican
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is January, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Great White Pelican
The map shades 72 countries with regular records, and 20 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Sweden, Norway, Thailand, Portugal, Canada, Switzerland, Malaysia, Somalia, Latvia, Serbia, Congo - Brazzaville, Nigeria, Hong Kong SAR China, Denmark.
About the Great White Pelican
The great white pelican, also known as the eastern white pelican, rosy pelican or simply white pelican, is a bird in the pelican family. It breeds from southeastern Europe through Asia and Africa, in swamps and shallow lakes.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Peruvian PelicanPelecanus thagusThese birds are dark in colour with a white stripe from the top of the bill up to the crown and down the sides of the neck.
Side by side: Brown Pelican vs Great White Pelican · American White Pelican vs Great White Pelican · Australian Pelican vs Great White Pelican · Great White Pelican vs Spot-billed Pelican · Great White Pelican vs Peruvian Pelican · Dalmatian Pelican vs Great White Pelican
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