North American white pelican

bird

Also known as: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

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July 23, 2026

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Slave River North American white pelicans (*Pelecanus erythrorhynchos*) on the Slave River, near Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada.

The North American white pelican, scientifically known as Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, is a large bird native to North and Central America. These pelicans are predominantly white with black wing feathers and possess an impressive wingspan that can reach up to 10 feet. They are water birds that inhabit lakes, rivers, and seacoasts.123

Pelicans catch fish using their large, elastic throat pouches, which function as a dip-net, though the fish are swallowed immediately and not stored. While ungainly on land, they are remarkable in flight, often soaring in unison within small flocks. The North American white pelican is migratory and typically breeds in colonies on islands in lakes across north-central and western North America.3

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pelican
… of the New World, the North American white pelican, and P. onocrotalus 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…
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… of the New World, the North American white pelican, and P. onocrotalus 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…
Read More