The spot-billed pelican is a large water bird from southern Asia, known for its white body, colorful pouch, and fishing technique using its bill. It nests in colonies, with a courtship display involving head swinging. Breeding occurs from October to May, and young stay in the nest for up to five months.
The spot-billed pelican is a rather large water bird that is frequently the largest or among the largest native birds in the southern portions of its range. It weighs 4.1–6 kg (9.0–13.2 lb) and measures 125–152 cm (49–60 in) in length. While the normally large beak measured between 285 and 355 mm (11.2 and 14.0 in), the wingspan can vary between 213 and 250 cm (7 ft 0 in to 8 ft 2 in).
Peaceful journey Floating calmly, the pelican keeps a focused gaze.
It is primarily white, with a brownish tail, hindneck, and grey crest. A greyish nape crest is formed by the curled feathers on the hind neck. There are big, pale markings on the pink to purplish pouch, as well as on the sides of the upper mandible. The bill’s (or nail’s) tip is yellow to orange.
Elegant Flight The spot-bellied pelican soars through clear skies.
The orbital patch is pink and the skin at the base of the beak is dark in breeding plumage.They resemble the Dalmatian pelican in flight, but the bigger coverts have a pale band running along them, and the tertials and inner secondaries are darker. It has a rounder tail. White down covers the recently hatched young. A greyish speckled plumage is the result of their subsequent moult. It takes a year for the spots to show up on the bill. In their third year, the complete adult breeding plumage emerges.
Moss munching Pelicans forage moss in peaceful wetland waters.
Although they can hiss, growl, or snap their bills at their nests, they are incredibly quiet. The majority of early descriptions of nesting colonies have described them as boisterous, although some have suggested that they are unique in their quiet. It swims at the surface and, like the majority of pelicans, catches fish in its enormous bill pouch. It often fishes alone or in small flocks, unlike the great white pelican, which forms vast feeding flocks. However, occasionally, groups may align and push fish toward the shallows. Small groups flapping steadily in formation fly to their roosts or feeding grounds. They frequently soar on thermals during the hottest portion of the day.
Grazing Birds A pair of pelicans grazing in the water, their beaks dipping beneath the surface as the calm mid-morning light reflects off the serene waters.
The birds build their colonies on a thick platform of twigs perched atop a low tree. The breeding season runs from October to May. During courtship, males distend the pouch by swinging their heads up, down, sideways, and finally back over their backs. The head swaying motions may also produce bill claps. They typically construct nests alongside other colonial waterbirds, especially painted storks. The typical clutch contains three to four chalky white eggs, which get soiled as they age. The eggs hatch in about 30 to 33 days.
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