Great White Pelican

Great White Pelican (Peeicanus onocrotalus) is one of the largest flying birds in the world, with a wingspan of about 3 m. The bird is white in color, with a yellow bill and black wingtips. It has a characteristic pouched bill, short legs and webbed feet.

Great White Pelican feeds mainly on fish. To catch its prey, it pushes its bill underwater and fills the lower part of the beak with water and fish, which stretches to form a pouch, thus functioning as a scoop. As it lifts its head, the pouch is constricted, thereby squeezing out the water while retaining the fish alone.

Great White Pelican can be seen in the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Rajasthan.