Among the largest of the flying birds, pelicans are famous because of their
unusual appearance. These birds are naturally very huge in size with large bill
and wings. As fishing birds, pelicans live around lakes, rivers, marshes, and
seacoasts.
They can sit very easily in water because of their structure bones. Some kinds
of pelicans have been known to reach lengths up to 70 inches (180 centimeters)
and weights up to 30 pounds (13 kilograms). A pelican eats several pounds of
fish each day. They are sociable animals and nest on small isolated coastal
islands where they are safe from different predators.
A male and a female pelican build a nest together, usually on the ground.
Females produce two or three yellowish eggs. Pelicans rub the backs of their
heads on their preen glands to pick up its oily secretion, which they transfer
to their plumage to waterproof it. They are also used as symbols in few countries.
