Pelecanidae - Pelicans	Classification  Phylum: Chordata  Class: Aves  Order: Pelecaniformes  Family: Pelecaniformes

Pelecanidae Photo Gallery

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Breeds in NH Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

New Hampshire Species		North/Central American Species
None		American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis

Other Species Around the World
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH
Australian Pelican - Pelecanus conspicillatus Dalmatian Pelican - Pelecanus crispus		Great White Pelican - Pelecanus onocrotalus Spot-billed Pelican - Pelecanus philippensis Pink-backed Pelican - Pelecanus rufescens Peruvian Pelican - Pelecanus thagus

Additional Information

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio

Pelicans
Pelicans are an old family of birds, with fossils dating back almost 40 million years.
Source: San Diego Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/ Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
The American white pelican breeds in isolated areas from Manitoba, Canada and Minnesota west to northern California. It winters in California, Mexico, Central America, along the Gulf Coast, and in Florida.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
American white pelicans winter in coastal bays and estuaries.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
The American white pelican does not dive for fish, it dips its head underwater to scoop up fish.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
American white pelicans nest on islands in colonies that can include several hundred pairs.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Australian Pelican - Pelecanus conspicillatus
The Australian pelican is found in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Australian Pelican - Pelecanus conspicillatus
The Australian pelican has the longest bill of any bird species.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis
The brown pelican breeds along the Pacific coast from California to Chile and along the Atlantic coast from South Carolina through the Caribbean to Venezuela
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis
The brown pelican is a coastal bird. It is rarely seen inland.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis
The brown pelican is the only pelican species that plunges from the air into the water to catch its food.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis
The brown pelican is a dark brown bird with a white to pale yellow neck and black feet and legs.
Source: National Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis
The brown pelican nests on the ground.
Source: Philadelphia Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis
The brown pelican eats shrimp and small fish like anchovies, sardines, and menhaden.
Source: Los Angeles Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis
The brown pelican is the sate bird of Louisiana.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No

Dalmatian Pelican - Pelecanus crispus
The Dalmatian pelican breeds from southeastern Europe to India and China
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Dalmatian Pelican - Pelecanus crispus
The Dalmatian pelican is the largest pelican species. It is 67-75 inches in length and has a wingspan of close to 10 feet.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Great White Pelican - Pelecanus onocrotalus
The great white pelican is found from southeastern Europe through Asia and Africa.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Great White Pelican - Pelecanus onocrotalus
The great white pelican is found in freshwater lakes, deltas, marshes, and swamps.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Great White Pelican - Pelecanus onocrotalus
The great white pelican is all white with a pink face and pink legs.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Peruvian Pelican - Pelecanus thagus
The Peruvian pelican is found in Peru and Chile.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Pink-backed Pelican - Pelecanus rufescens
The pink-backed pelican is one of the smallest of the eight pelican species.
Source: Bristol Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Pink-backed Pelican - Pelecanus rufescens
The pink-backed pelican is gray and white, with a pinkish back
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Spot-billed Pelican - Pelecanus philippensis
The spot-billed pelican is found in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Spot-billed Pelican - Pelecanus philippensis
The spot-billed pelican is a social bird, and it lives and travels in flocks.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Spot-billed Pelican - Pelecanus philippensis
The spot-billed pelican is white and has a gray crest on its head and a brown tail
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No