Facts about Pelicans

1. 08

   Pelicans can live 20 to 30 years in the wild, with some individuals reaching ages exceeding 40 years, making them among the longest-lived water birds.

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2. 07

   Eight species of pelicans exist worldwide, with the Australian pelican possessing the longest bill of any bird species, measuring up to 18.5 inches in length.

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3. 06

   Pelican colonies can contain over 10,000 breeding pairs nesting together on isolated islands, with some of the largest aggregations found in the Peruvian Pacific waters.

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4. 05

   Somewhere between 5 and 13 million pelicans inhabited North America before the 1970s, when DDT pesticide use caused eggshell thinning and nearly drove brown pelicans to extinction.

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5. 04

   Pelican pairs engage in elaborate synchronized swimming and dancing displays lasting several minutes during courtship rituals before mating.

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6. 03

   The oldest known pelican fossil, discovered in Wyoming, dates back approximately 30 million years to the Oligocene epoch.

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7. 02

   During breeding season, brown pelicans in North America dive from heights up to 60 feet to catch fish, striking the water at speeds exceeding 40 miles per hour.

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8. 01

   A pelican's throat pouch can hold up to 3 gallons of water, three times more than its stomach capacity.

   PelicansMay 13sharebiologymeasurement