The American white pelican is one of the largest flying birds in North America, and one of the most graceful. With its snowy white feathers, black-tipped wings, and massive orange bill, it’s a showstopper in the sky—and on the water!
Unlike its coastal cousin, the brown pelican, the American white pelican doesn’t dive to catch fish. Instead, it works as part of a group, cooperatively herding fish into shallow water with other pelicans and then scooping them up with its enormous pouch-like bill, which can hold up to 3 gallons of water and fish!
These birds are migratory, spending summers in the northern U.S. and Canada (nesting near inland lakes) and winters in the southern U.S. and Mexico, especially around coastal wetlands. During migration, they often fly in V-shaped formations, soaring on air currents with little flapping—sometimes for hundreds of miles.
American white pelicans are surprisingly quiet for their size, communicating mostly through body language and soft grunts. They build their nests on the ground in large colonies and take turns keeping eggs warm and safe from predators.
In zoos, these birds are usually featured in wetlands or waterbird exhibits, where they can be seen gliding across ponds, preening, and scooping up fish in slow, deliberate movements.
