Pink-backed or Great White Pelican (1 Viewer)

ESTEBANNIC

Well-known member

• Nov 17, 2017

• #1

Hi guys

Yesterday, this fellow appeared here on the island of Mallorca (Spain). As little experience with pelicans... Great White or Pink-backed? Any ideas? (I know the photos are not fantastic)

Thank in advance for any help :t:

Steve

 

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C

Cinereous

Well-known member

• Nov 17, 2017

• #2

They look like two completely different birds... Photo 1 Looks like an Australian Pelican with it's black wings... Photo 2 looks like a Pink-backed (probably the light)... So probably a Great-white then?? Juv?

 

Last edited: Nov 17, 2017

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Nov 17, 2017

• #3

That it's perched on a building must be pretty good proof it's an escape from a zoo :t:

 

Gladiator96

Well-known member

• Nov 17, 2017

• #4

Nutcracker said:

That it's perched on a building must be pretty good proof it's an escape from a zoo :t:

Click to expand...

Agreed that it's most likely an escapee. I'm guessing that Pelicans are vagrants to the Balearics. Last record of a Pelican in Malta was in 1999.

 

C

Cinereous

Well-known member

• Nov 17, 2017

• #5

Nutcracker said:

That it's perched on a building must be pretty good proof it's an escape from a zoo :t:

Click to expand...

I never thought about that... although Brown Pelicans perch on pretty much anything... Captive birds are often pinioned to stop them from flying off... It's hard to say.. Could it be a rescued and released bird?

 

Dortmundbirder

Well-known member

• Nov 17, 2017

• #6

There are several Pink backed Pelican sightings from escaped birds in Germany. There are even some zoos, where they are more or less free flying.