European white pelican

bird

Also known as: Pelecanus onocrotalus

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

The European white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) is a large water bird distinguished by its prominent throat pouch, used for scooping up fish which are then swallowed immediately. These birds inhabit various parts of the world, including lakes, rivers, and seacoasts. While ungainly on land, they are impressive in flight, often soaring in flocks. The European white pelican is one of two species commonly referred to as "white pelicans," the other being the North American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). Pelicans typically lay one to four eggs, and their young are fed regurgitated food by the parents.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

pelican
… of the Old World, the European white pelican. Between 1970 and late 2009, the smaller, 107–137-cm brown pelican was listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Though the brown pelican once bred in enormous colonies along New World coasts, its population declined drastically in North America during…
Read More
… of the Old World, the European white pelican. Between 1970 and late 2009, the smaller, 107–137-cm brown pelican was listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Though the brown pelican once bred in enormous colonies along New World coasts, its population declined drastically in North America during…
Read More