AnimaliaHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN LCInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Least Concern — widespread and abundant; not at immediate risk of extinction.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
American White Pelican
Gmelin, 1789
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
An immense, soaring waterbird characterized by its snow-white plumage, which contrasts sharply with black primary and secondary flight feathers visible only in flight or when the wings are spread. It features a massive, elongated bright orange bill equipped with a large, distensible gular pouch on the underside for scooping prey. During the breeding season, the bill develops a conspicuous vertical horn-like ridge on the upper mandible, and the crown turns a soft greyish-white. The eyes are pale, and the short legs and webbed feet are bright orange-red.
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Julia Trouin
TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Chordata
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Aves
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Pelecaniformes
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Pelecanidae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Pelecanus
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.Gmelin, 1789
Record Completeness
96%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
Native
Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Increasing
Breeding SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
Year Round
Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Carnivore
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
Primarily breeds on isolated islands within large, shallow interior freshwater or brackish lakes, marshes, and reservoirs in western and central North America. During winter, colonies migrate southeastward to coastal estuaries, calm marine bays, salt marshes, and river deltas along the Gulf Coast, Florida, and Mexico, avoiding open ocean areas.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
An intensely gregarious bird that flies, migrates, and nests in tight-knit groups. When migrating or commuting between foraging locations, they fly in long, fluid V-formations or synchronized lines, alternating between heavy flapping and graceful, synchronized gliding. They are essentially silent as adults, emitting only low grunts within noisy nesting colonies.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
Extremely social throughout the entire year, exhibiting advanced group coordination during both migration flights and surface foraging. They establish immense, crowded nesting colonies containing thousands of individuals, where close proximity requires subtle postural signaling to avoid territorial conflict.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Carnivore (surface piscivore/cooperative aquatic packaging generalist consuming fresh and brackish-water schooling fish).Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
Acts as a major upper-level consumer in aquatic food webs. The opportunistic diet is comprised heavily of small to mid-sized fish, salamanders, and crayfish. Nestlings are vulnerable to intense predation by California Gulls, Herring Gulls, Common Ravens, and feral mammalian predators.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
Serially monogamous for a single breeding season. Courtship occurs in groups on the ground, featuring coordinated head-bowing and short flights. The nest is a crude, shallow depression scraped into loose soil or gravel, sometimes lined with a meager ring of dry grass and small twigs. The female typically lays 2 chalky white eggs. Both parents incubate using their large, vascularized webbed feet for 30 to 36 days. Siblicide is extremely common; the older chick routinely harasses the younger sibling, which rarely survives past the first few weeks.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
127.0 - 165.0 cm
Weight (Grams)
5.00 kg - 9.00 kg
Offspring per cycleTypical number of young (live births, eggs, or seeds) produced by one adult in a single reproductive event or breeding season.1 - 2
Sexual DimorphismObservable physical differences between males and females of the same species (e.g., size, coloration, features).Yes
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
3 - 4 Years
Gestation / IncubationDuration from fertilization to birth (mammals) or to hatching (egg-laying species).
30 - 36
Lifespan EstimatedExpected duration of life from birth to natural death under wild conditions.
Males12 - 17 Years
Females12 - 17 Years
Sexual DimorphismPhysical differences in size, coloration, or morphology between males and females of this species.
Males Multi-lang
No plumage color dimorphism. Displays significant structural size and mass dimorphism; adult males are noticeably larger, possess longer bills, and can be up to 15-20% heavier than females, especially prominent during the development of the seasonal bill horn.
Females Multi-lang
Identical in its stark snow-white and black wing configurations, but structurally smaller in skeletal dimensions and consistently lighter in body weight benchmarks than the male.
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
Possesses a highly expandable gular pouch that acts as a dip net, capable of holding over 11 liters of water and fish. It features an integrated drainage mechanism where the bird tilts its head back to expel water before swallowing the captured fish.
Features massive wings and specialized pneumatic (air-filled) bones combined with subcutaneous air sacs that provide exceptional buoyancy in water and allow efficient, low-energy thermal soaring over vast distances during migration.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Vulnerable to severe disturbance at nesting colonies; human encroachment or low-flying aircraft can prompt mass desertion of nests, exposing eggs to gulls. Other significant threats include climate-induced drying of inland lakes and power line collisions.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
Unlike Brown Pelicans, this species never dives from the air to catch prey. Instead, they forage while swimming along the water's surface, often organizing into highly coordinated horseshoe formations to drive schools of fish into shallow water where they can be easily scooped up.
The prominent vertical horn that grows on the upper bill of both sexes during early spring is completely unique to this species. Its exact biological function remains debated, but it serves as a visual indicator of breeding readiness and is shed immediately after eggs are laid.