Prakruti Parichay
PelecanidaePelecanus

Spot-billed Pelican

Pelecanus philippensis

140–140 cmVery Large
Beak
—
Feet
—
Crest
Has a crest

Resident. Breeds in S and NE India and Sri Lanka; widespread in non - breeding season. D Much smaller than Great White and Dalmatian, with dingier appearance. rather uniform pinkish bill and pouch (except in breed ing condition!, and black spotting on upper mandible (except [uvanilas]. Pale circumorbital skin looks cut off from bill (appears to be wearing gogglast. Tufted crest/hind neck usually apparent even on young birds. Underwing pattern similar to that of Dalmatian (and quite different from Great Whitel, showing little contrast between wing-coverts and flight feathers and with paler greater coverts producing distinct central panel. Adult breeding has cinnamon-pink rump, undarwing-covarts and undartail-coverts; head and neck appear greyish; has purplish skin in front of aye, and pouch is pink to dull purple and blotched with black. Adult non-breeding dirtier grayish-white, with paler pouch and facial skin. Immature has variable grey-brown markings on upperparts. Juvenile has brownish head and neck, brown mantle and upperwing-coverts (fringed with pale buffl, and brown flight feathers; spotting on bill initially lacking (and still indistinct at 12 months), Gregarious, and fishes alone or cooperatively in a flock like Great White. Large lakes, reservoirs and coastal lagoons and estuaries.

Colour

BrownWhiteBlackPink
Average size
140 cm
Habitat
Large lakes, reservoirs and coastal lagoons and estuaries.
Behaviour
Resident. Breeds in S and NE India and Sri Lanka, widespread in non - breeding season., Gregarious, and fishes alone or cooperatively in a flock like Great White.

About this bird

Resident. Breeds in S and NE India and Sri Lanka; widespread in non - breeding season. D Much smaller than Great White and Dalmatian, with dingier appearance. rather uniform pinkish bill and pouch (except in breed ing condition!, and black spotting on upper mandible (except [uvanilas]. Pale circumorbital skin looks cut off from bill (appears to be wearing gogglast. Tufted crest/hind neck usually apparent even on young birds. Underwing pattern similar to that of Dalmatian (and quite different from Great Whitel, showing little contrast between wing-coverts and flight feathers and with paler greater coverts producing distinct central panel. Adult breeding has cinnamon-pink rump, undarwing-covarts and undartail-coverts; head and neck appear greyish; has purplish skin in front of aye, and pouch is pink to dull purple and blotched with black. Adult non-breeding dirtier grayish-white, with paler pouch and facial skin. Immature has variable grey-brown markings on upperparts. Juvenile has brownish head and neck, brown mantle and upperwing-coverts (fringed with pale buffl, and brown flight feathers; spotting on bill initially lacking (and still indistinct at 12 months), Gregarious, and fishes alone or cooperatively in a flock like Great White. Large lakes, reservoirs and coastal lagoons and estuaries.

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Spot-billed Pelican is bigger than Black-necked Stork but smaller than Goliath Heron.

This bird

Spot-billed Pelican

Pelecanus philippensis

140–140 cm