- Pelecanus philippensis
Identification
125-150cms (49¼-59ins)
- White overall plumage
- Grey crest, hindneck and tail
- Bluish lores
- Mostly pinkish upper mandible
- Pale flight feathers from below
In breeding plumage, there is a pink tone to the rump and underwings. Grey spots on the pink bill
Non-breeders are off-white in these areas, and immature birds are brown.
Distribution
Southern Asia from southern Pakistan, India to Indonesia.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Deep and shallow wetlands, both man-made and natural, freshwater and saline, open and forested.
Behaviour
Breeding
They are colonial breeders, nesting in tall trees or palms. The nest is a heap of vegetation. The clutch consists of 3-4 eggs.
Diet
They feed in open water; the diet consists mostly of fish.
References
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2023. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Spot-billed Pelican. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 9 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Spot-billed_Pelican
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
