Peruvian Pelican

The Peruvian pelican, Pelecanus thagus, is a large bird with a predominantly dark plumage. A striking white stripe adorns the top of its bill, extending to the crown and down the sides of the neck. This species boasts long, tufted feathers atop its head. It is a robust creature, tipping the scales at 5 to 7 kg (11–15 lb), measuring 137 to 152 cm (4.5–5.0 ft) in length, and displaying an impressive wingspan of approximately 228 cm (7.5 ft).

Identification Tips

Distinguishable from its relative, the brown pelican, the Peruvian pelican is larger with more pronounced crest feathers. It also exhibits distinct coloration in the gular pouch, beak, scapulars, and greater wing coverts, setting it apart from its brown counterpart.

Habitat

The Peruvian pelican is a coastal bird, often found along the rich, cold waters of the Humboldt Current.

Distribution

This species graces the west coast of South America. It breeds from central Chile, around 33.5 degrees south, to Piura in northern Peru. It is also known to visit southern Chile and Ecuador.

Behaviour

Breeding

The breeding season for the Peruvian pelican spans from September to March. They nest in large colonies along the coast, laying clutches typically of two or three eggs. These eggs are incubated for about 4 to 5 weeks, and the young are reared over a period of approximately 3 months.

Feeding

Peruvian pelicans primarily dine on a variety of fish species. Unlike their brown pelican cousins, they do not plunge from great heights to capture prey. Instead, they dive from a shallow height or feed while swimming. Occasionally, they may consume other items such as nestlings of other seabirds or even cannibalize unrelated chicks of their own species. Their diet is heavily influenced by the availability of pelagic fish like anchovies, particularly the Peruvian anchoveta in the northern Humboldt Current System.

Conservation status

The Peruvian pelican has been assessed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List since 2008. A 2018 reassessment confirmed this status but noted an increasing population trend. One of the challenges facing this species is competition with commercial fisheries for anchovies, a staple in their diet.

Similar Species

The brown pelican is the most similar species, but the Peruvian pelican can be differentiated by its larger size, longer crest feathers, and distinct coloration differences in various parts of its body.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Peruvian pelican is predominantly fish, with a strong preference for cold-water species associated with upwellings like the Humboldt Current. They are adept at feeding in these nutrient-rich waters, which support large populations of their preferred prey, anchovies.