Pelicans are large aquatic birds known for their long beaks and expandable throat pouches. These features are central to their primary diet of fish. Found across every continent except Antarctica, these birds inhabit both inland waterways and coastal marine environments in tropical and temperate regions.
Daily Fish Consumption
An adult pelican consumes approximately 3 to 4 pounds (1.36 to 1.8 kilograms) of fish each day. This daily intake is an average and can vary depending on several factors, including the pelican species, its size, and environmental conditions. For instance, a Great White Pelican may require around 1.2 kilograms of fish daily, which is roughly 10% of its body weight. Similarly, American White Pelicans consume about 3 pounds of fish per day, while Brown Pelicans eat around 4 pounds.
Factors Influencing Diet
Pelican fish consumption fluctuates based on biological and environmental factors. Larger pelican species, such as the American White Pelican, require a higher caloric intake due to their size and metabolic demands. Environmental conditions like the availability of fish in their habitat play a role. When fish populations are abundant, pelicans consume more, but during periods of scarcity, their intake decreases, or they seek alternative food sources.
Seasonal changes and breeding cycles impact dietary needs. During the breeding season, pelicans have elevated energy demands for courtship, egg production, and raising their young, leading to increased foraging activity. The size of the fish available influences the total quantity consumed; pelicans prefer fish between six and twelve inches long, which are large enough to be nutritious but small enough to be swallowed whole. However, some species, like the Great White Pelican, can consume fish up to 4.2 pounds, and pelicans have been observed attempting to swallow fish as large as 10 pounds.
Pelican Hunting Strategies
Pelicans use diverse methods to capture prey, depending on their species. Brown Pelicans, for example, are known for their plunge-diving technique. They soar high above the water, often between 33 to 66 feet (10 to 20 meters), before folding their wings and diving headfirst into the water to snatch fish near the surface. During this descent, the pelican’s body rotates slightly to the left, and internal air sacs cushion the impact, protecting its organs and neck.
Other species, such as the American White Pelican, the Australian Pelican, and the Great White Pelican, engage in cooperative fishing strategies. These birds work together in groups, forming lines or semicircles on the water’s surface to herd schools of fish into shallow areas. They may beat their wings to disorient and concentrate the fish, making them easier to scoop up. All pelicans use their gular pouch, which can hold several gallons of water, to scoop up fish and then drain the water before swallowing.
Preferred Prey
Pelicans are primarily piscivorous. They target schooling fish that swim near the water’s surface. Common fish species consumed include mullet, anchovies, sardines, menhaden, herring, sheepshead, and minnows. For pelicans inhabiting freshwater environments, their diet may include carp, perch, catfish, and tilapia.
While fish is the majority of their diet, pelicans are opportunistic feeders. They consume other aquatic animals such as crustaceans, amphibians, and insects if fish are scarce. Occasionally, they eat small reptiles, and even other birds, such as seagulls or ducklings. Pelicans favor slow-moving, easily caught fish.