Pelicans are large aquatic birds, instantly recognizable by their immense bills and the flexible pouch beneath the lower jaw. Found across every continent except Antarctica, these birds inhabit diverse aquatic environments, from tropical coastlines and marine estuaries to inland freshwater lakes and rivers. Pelicans are highly adapted to water, possessing fully webbed feet that make them powerful swimmers. This combination of large size and specialized anatomy enables the eight species of pelicans worldwide to be successful predators in their respective ecosystems.
The Pelican’s Primary Diet
The pelican’s diet is almost entirely carnivorous, consisting overwhelmingly of various types of fish. They generally target small, schooling species near the surface, often consuming non-commercial varieties. Specific prey includes anchovies, menhaden, sardines, mullet, and minnows, depending on the pelican’s geographic location. An adult pelican needs to consume up to four pounds of food each day.
Pelicans are opportunistic feeders and supplement their diet with secondary prey. This includes aquatic creatures like crayfish, shrimp, and other crustaceans, as well as amphibians such as frogs and salamanders. In rare cases, some species have been observed consuming small birds, turtles, or scavenging dead material. The size of the fish consumed can vary significantly, ranging from small fry to larger fish weighing over four pounds.
Specialized Hunting Techniques
The pelican’s primary hunting tool is the highly elastic gular pouch, which functions as a temporary scoop. When the bird strikes the water, the lower jaw bows outward, allowing the pouch to expand dramatically and hold a large volume of water and trapped prey. This sac is capable of holding up to three gallons of water, nearly three times the capacity of the bird’s stomach.
Once the catch is secured, the pelican must drain the captured water before swallowing. The bird achieves this by tilting its head forward and resting the bill against its chest, which contracts the pouch and forces the water out through the sides of the bill. The prey is then maneuvered into position and swallowed whole, head-first.
Pelicans also frequently engage in cooperative hunting, particularly the white-plumaged species on inland waters. In this group strategy, multiple birds line up or form a U-shape on the water’s surface. They swim forward in unison, beating their wings and moving their feet to drive schools of fish into a concentrated area or toward the shallows. This coordinated herding behavior increases their foraging success rate, allowing them to scoop up densely packed fish.
Species-Specific Feeding Adaptations
The eight species of pelicans employ two fundamentally different hunting approaches, dictated by their habitat and physical form.
Plunge Diving
The Brown Pelican, found in coastal marine environments, is famous for its high-speed, head-first plunge diving technique. This bird spots fish from heights up to 60 feet, tucks its wings, and dives like a torpedo into the water to stun and capture prey. The Peruvian Pelican is the only other species that utilizes this aerial dive, though it strikes the water from a lower altitude.
Surface Scooping
In contrast, the American White Pelican prefers large, shallow inland lakes and wetlands, foraging almost exclusively while swimming on the surface. This species does not plunge dive but uses its bill to scoop up fish near the surface. The American White Pelican is a prime example of the coordinated group feeding strategy, often gathering in large rafts to herd fish into position. These different techniques reflect evolutionary adaptation: the Brown Pelican’s dive is suited for open ocean hunting, while the White Pelican’s surface scooping is maximized by teamwork in confined, shallow waters.