General Description
Body white with black pattern on wings. Bill very long, pink, and with large deflated pouch on lower bill. Body up to 1.8 m long.
Biology
Australia's only species of pelican. They occasionally form small flocks and help one another to feed by surrounding fish and herding them together.
Habitat
Coastal bays and inlets, and inland freshwater wetlands.
Coastal shores
Distribution guide
Isolated populations across Australia, except Tasmania.
Species Group
Max Size
1.8 m
Diet
Carnivore
Commercial Species
Yes
Global Dispersal
Native to Australia
Conservation Status
- DSE Advisory List : Not listed
- EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
- IUCN Red List : Least Concern
Author
Wayne Longmore is a Senior Collection manager of terrestrial vertebrates at Museum Victoria.
Author
Rory O'Brien is a Collection Manager of terrestrial vertebrates at Museum Victoria.
Cite this page as:
Longmore, N. W. & O'Brien, R., 2011, Australian Pelican, Pelecanus conspicillatus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 04 Dec 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7975
