Pink-backed Pelican

Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens )

The Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens ) is a species of bird in the family of pelicans. He is a smaller edition of the Pink Pelican.

Features

The Pink-backed Pelican sees the Great White Pelican similar, but differs by the larger head Krause and the gray plumage (except young animals) pink or red- brown shimmer. The tail and flight feathers are dirty gray to black - brown, beak and feet are bright orange. He also has a teardrop-shaped spot between beak and eye. As the only pelican species he has a place along transverse grooved throat pouch. Young animals and adult animals in the simplicity of dress are gray - brown in color. It reaches a length of 130 centimeters, a wingspan of 240 centimeters and is 3-4 kilograms.

Habitat and Distribution

The Pink-backed Pelican preferred marshland and the shores of large lakes. He lives in Africa from Egypt to Angola, the Congo and the Sahara it does not happen. The animals are found in Central Europe captivity refugees.

Way of life

Rötelpelikane are good swimmers and fliers, as with all pelicans all four toes are joined together by a webbing also with them. On land they move ponderously. Rötelpelikane place sometimes great distances from lake to lake flying back. Rötelpelikane breed in colonies on riverbanks. During the mating season, her throat sac colored neon yellow, outside the mating season he is buried. With the huge bill they catch fish, often circling them in groups or drive them into shallower water.