Pink-backed Pelicans
Scientific Name: Pelecanus rufescens
Did you know?
The Pink-Backed Pelican cannot sweat so it opens its beak and flaps its large neck pouch. They can also hold 8 litres of water in their pouch. The Pink-Backed Pelican is the smallest of the 8 pelican species.
Habitat
The Pink-Backed Pelican is found in Central and Southern Africa. It is found in coastal and wetland areas, lakes and estuaries, but not the open ocean.
Diet
The Pink-Backed Pelican feeds on fish, frogs and insects. They will eat up to 1 kilogram of food each day. The Pink-Backed Pelican scoops up the fish in its bill and squeezes out the water before swallowing its food. The lower part of the Pink-Backed Pelican’s bill is a leathery pouch called a gula. It is used as a fishing net and a feeding bowl for chicks.
