Pelicans · Pelicans and herons
Dalmatian Pelican
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Pelecanus crispus
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How to recognize it
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180 cm, wingspan up to 3.2 m
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Huge white body, pale grey back
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Curly feathers on the nape and crown
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Massive bill with orange breeding pouch, dark grey legs
About the species
Mostly white with pale grey on the back and wings, the Dalmatian Pelican carries a shaggy crest of curly feathers on the back of its head. In winter the plumage turns duller and greyer, while the bare throat pouch can shift from yellowish tones to a bright orange-red in the breeding season.
It spends much of its time on water, swimming high and taking fish with a quick dip of the head and front of the body. Away from the colony it is usually quiet, but in nesting areas it gives low grunts, growls, and pig-like snorts, and in flight it often moves in loose, synchronized lines.
It uses large wetlands, deltas, lakes, and reedbeds, and feeds mainly on fish in shallow water or near the surface over deeper water. Across its range it shifts with the seasons, breeding in scattered colonies and wintering farther south, while in some places it stays near the same sites year-round.
Where to find
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On large lakes and in river lowlands — look for calm open water where the Dalmatian Pelican swims high on the surface and snaps its bill down to catch fish.
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Along reed edges and floating islets — in early morning it often stays almost still near the cattails, feeding in shallow water.
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In river deltas, broad channels, and quiet lagoons — breeding colonies give themselves away with low grunts and growls, especially in spring.
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On ice-free winter waters and exposed shorelines — small groups gather to rest on the water after short flights.
