Pelicans primarily consume fish, adapting their diet to available prey in various aquatic environments, including freshwater, brackish, and marine habitats. While fish constitute the vast majority of their sustenance, pelicans are also opportunistic feeders, occasionally supplementing their diet with other food sources. Their feeding behaviors are highly specialized, utilizing unique physical adaptations and sometimes cooperative strategies to secure meals.
Pelicans’ Primary Food Source
Fish is the primary component of a pelican’s diet. These adaptable carnivores consume a diverse array of fish species depending on their location and prey availability. In marine environments, common prey includes small schooling fish such as anchovies, sardines, and menhaden, often targeted due to their abundance and tendency to gather near the water’s surface.
Freshwater pelicans, like the American White Pelican, feed on species found in lakes and rivers, including carp, minnows, perch, shad, suckers, and rainbow trout. Pelicans prefer fish small enough to be swallowed whole, ranging from 6 to 12 inches in length.
Hunting Techniques of Pelicans
Pelicans employ distinct hunting techniques tailored to their environment and species. The brown pelican, commonly found in coastal areas, is known for its plunge-diving method. This bird soars to heights of 10 to 20 meters (33 to 66 feet) above the water, then folds its wings and dives headfirst to snatch fish near the surface. Adaptations like air sacs beneath their breast skin and a slight body rotation upon impact help cushion the force of hitting the water, protecting them from injury.
White pelicans, such as the American White Pelican, hunt cooperatively while swimming on the water’s surface. Groups of these birds often form lines or semi-circles, using their large wings and bills to herd fish into shallow waters where they are easier to capture. Once concentrated, pelicans scoop them up with their large gular pouches, which can hold several gallons of water and fish. The pelican then tilts its head forward to drain the water before swallowing the fish whole.
Beyond Fish: Other Foods Pelicans Eat
Pelicans are opportunistic and will consume other items if available. These supplemental food sources are less common and often occur when fish are scarce. Pelicans have been observed eating crustaceans, such as crabs, crayfish, and prawns, and amphibians like frogs, salamanders, and tadpoles. Small reptiles, including lizards and turtles, may also occasionally be part of their diet.
In some instances, pelicans have been documented preying on other birds, including chicks, nestlings, gulls, pigeons, and ducklings, particularly by species like the great white, Australian, brown, and Peruvian pelicans. They may also consume eggs of other birds. Consuming foods other than fish can sometimes lead to digestive issues for pelicans.