Description
Bird Skull, Great White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus #2.
You will receive this exact skull.
The Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) is a large and striking bird found in various parts of Africa, including Tanzania, where it inhabits wetlands, lakes, and coastal areas. Here’s an overview focused on its presence in Tanzania:
🐦 Description
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Size: One of the largest flying birds, with a wingspan of 2.3 to 3.6 meters (7.5 to 11.8 ft).
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Color: Mostly white with black flight feathers on the wings.
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Bill: Large yellow bill with a stretchy pinkish pouch used for scooping fish.
🌍 Habitat in Tanzania
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Commonly found around large freshwater lakes like:
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Lake Manyara
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Lake Natron
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Lake Victoria
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Lake Tanganyika
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Wetlands of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater
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Prefers shallow lakes, swamps, floodplains, and estuaries.
🍽️ Diet
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Primarily feeds on fish, including tilapia and catfish.
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Uses cooperative fishing: several pelicans will form a semicircle and herd fish into shallow water where they scoop them up.
- Bird Skull White Pelican
🧬 Behavior and Breeding
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Breeds in colonies, often on remote islands or sandbanks.
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Nests are made on the ground, and both parents take turns incubating 1–3 eggs.
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Pelicans are highly social, forming large flocks during non-breeding periods.
🧭 Migration
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In East Africa, including Tanzania, populations may be resident or partially migratory, moving locally in response to water levels and food availability.
🛡️ Conservation Status
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IUCN Red List: Least Concern, but vulnerable to habitat loss, pollution, and disturbance.
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Protected in many national parks and conservation areas across Tanzania.
- Bird Skull White Pelican
📸 Wildlife Viewing Tips
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Best viewed in:
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Lake Manyara National Park – especially during the wet season.
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Selous Game Reserve
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Ngorongoro Conservation Area
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Bring binoculars and visit early in the morning when they are most active.
Bird skull, African Spoonbill, Anastomus lamelligerus from Tanzania
