American White Pelican

Andrew Hahn 2013

Classification• Kingdom: “Animalia”• Phylum: Chordata• Class: Aves• Order: Pelicaniformes• Family: Pelicanidae• Genus: Pelecanus• Species: erythrorhynchos

Physical Characteristics • The American White Pelican is large. It weighs

up to 10 to 30 pounds., and is 4-7 ft. long!• Their feathers are ALL white, except black

wingtips, and a few yellowish feathers and a “crest” that appears on their bill during mating season!

Distribution • Two Species: Brown And White Pelicans• Brown Pelicans live along in the western, eastern and

southern parts of the united States.• White Pelicans live mostly on freshwater lakes, streams, and

marshes as well as ponds.• Colonies can be found in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba,

Ontario, and British Columbia.• About 1,000 pelicans can be found in each flock.

Habitat• Live near freshwater lakes and/or rivers• Live in large colonies on islands• Nesting is always on islands so babies can be

safer from coyotes or other malicious or bad predators.

• Islands are very sandy and “rocky”

Conservation Status• The IUCN red listing is LEAST CONCERN (to

being endangered). • Probably healthy.

Diet• Pelicans mostly eat fish, but they also can eat

salamanders or crayfish. • Also, minnows and small fish are suitable for

food, and make a tasty snack. • Salamanders are small and easy to eat.

Longevity

• Can live up to 30 or more years depending on their environment.

Reproduction

• Pelican eggs are white, one to three eggs appear in a nest. They hatch in 36 days.

• After two weeks they start “growing” and maturing to adults.

Predator Relationships The predators of the white pelican are the

raven, crow ,wolf ,coyote, and dogs. Maybe crocodiles or alligators could catch them. Many Indians have killed them for their feathers and/or food.

Human Relationship • Pelicans tend to stay away from humans, and

therefore nest on islands to keep their distance from humans. They also protect their babies this way.

Fun Facts

• The white pelican can be 4 to 6 feet long.• There are 8 species of White Pelicans in the

World.• Pelicans are really good flyers, despite their

awkward body shape.• Pelicans are able to fly for hours without

beating their wings!

Works Cited• American White Pelican IN: 2011 Annual Report of Endangered Species. Olympia:

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2011. Print.• The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds. John K. Terres. New York:

Alfred A. Knopf, 1987. Print.• Canisius Ambassadors for Conservation. Canisius College, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2013.

<http://www.conservanature.org.o/learn about wildlife/prairie/white_pelican.htm>.• Nature Works. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2013.

<Http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/whitepelican.htm>• Savage, Candace. Pelicans. N.p.: Grolier, 1985. Print. Vol. 16 of Getting to Know...

Nature's Children.• Stone, Lynn M. The Pelican. Minneapolis: Dillon Press, Inc., 1990. Print.• Wernert, Susan J., ed. North American Wildlife. Pleasantville: Reader's Digest, 1982.

Print.• Www.Bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/2010/ beck_laur/Classification.htm , N.p., n.d. Web.

20 Mar. 2013.•