Australian Pelican

Identification

The Australian pelican is a large waterbird, predominantly white with black wings and a distinctive pink bill. Most notably, it possesses the longest bill of any living bird, with record-sized specimens reaching 50 cm in length. The species has a wingspan of 2.3 to 2.6 metres and typically weighs between 4.54 and 7.7 kg, making it the second heaviest Australian flying bird species on average. Females are slightly smaller than males, with notably smaller bills that can measure as little as 34.6 cm at maturity. The white-V marking on the rump contrasts sharply with black primaries, and the bird's total length of 152–188 cm rivals the Dalmatian pelican as the longest of all pelican species. During courtship, the eye-ring and distal bill become orange-coloured, while the pouch turns dark blue, pink or scarlet. Non-breeding adults display pale yellow bills and eye-rings with pale pinkish pouches.

Range & Habitat

The Australian pelican is widespread across inland and coastal waters of Australia and New Guinea, with populations also occurring in Fiji and parts of Indonesia. The species appears as a vagrant in New Zealand, where subfossil records suggest historical presence. Australian pelicans show no fixed migration pattern, instead following food availability across large expanses of open water. They inhabit lakes, reservoirs, billabongs, rivers, estuaries, swamps, salt evaporation ponds and coastal lagoons. The surrounding landscape—whether forest, grassland, desert or industrial wasteland—matters far less than the availability of open water and sufficient food supplies. They roost on mudflats, sandbars, beaches, reefs, jetties and pilings.

Behaviour & Diet

Australian pelicans are highly adaptable feeders, more omnivorous than most pelican species. They hunt by plunge-diving while swimming or working cooperatively in groups to drive fish into shallower water, where they use their sensitive bills to snatch prey. Feeding grounds on large bodies of water can attract up to 1,900 individual birds. While fish form their predominant diet—including introduced species such as goldfish, European carp and European perch—they readily consume insects, aquatic crustaceans (particularly yabbies, prawns and Macrobrachium shrimp), other birds including silver gulls and grey teal, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals. The species occasionally engages in kleptoparasitism, stealing food from cormorants and other water birds.

Best Time & Places to See It

Australian pelicans are best located on large, open bodies of water throughout mainland Australia and Tasmania. Their movements are unpredictable, driven by drought and food availability rather than seasonal schedules. Large congregations may form on inland lakes during periods of water abundance, while coastal cities and northern coasts attract significant populations when inland water sources dry. Lake Eyre and similar major inland water systems draw thousands of birds when filled by rainfall. Look for them in estuaries and coastal lagoons year-round, though numbers fluctuate based on environmental conditions.

Photography Tips

The Australian pelican's enormous, colourful bill and striking black-and-white plumage make it highly photogenic. Capture the species during plunge-diving sequences or cooperative feeding displays in groups, which offer dynamic action shots. The conspicuous eye markings and dramatic bill colouration—particularly the orange and vibrant pouch colours during breeding season—provide excellent detail opportunities. Photograph birds on open water or roosting on mudflats and sandbars to showcase their elegant silhouettes and the characteristic white-V rump marking against black primaries. Large aggregations offer compelling compositional possibilities.