Justification Conservation measures have resulted in a population increase in Europe, particularly at the species's largest colony, at Lake Mikri Prespa in Greece. However, rapid population declines in the remainder of its range are suspected to be continuing and therefore the species is listed as Vulnerable.

Family/Sub-family Pelecanidae

Species name author Bruch, 1832

Taxonomic source(s) AERC TAC (2003), Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 160-180 cm. Huge, whitish waterbird. Silvery-white breeding plumage. Yellow to purple bare skin around eyes. Orange-red gular pouch at onset of breeding becoming yellow later. Pale grey underwing becoming darker at wing-tips. Bushy crest on nape. Similar spp. White Pelican P. onocrotalus is slightly smaller, has pinkish-white plumage and a yellow gular pouch, more extensive bare skin around eye, downward hanging crest, pink legs and all-dark flight feathers. Voice Barking, hissing and grunting calls at colonies.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

10,000 - 13,900

decreasing

298,000 km²

No

Range & population Pelecanus crispus breeds in eastern Europe and east-central Asia, in Serbia and Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Ukraine, Mongolia, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. European breeders winter in the eastern Mediterranean countries, Russian and central Asian breeders in Iran, Iraq and the Indian subcontinent, and Mongolian birds along the east coast of China⁷, including Hong Kong (China). Following massive declines during the 19th and 20th centuries, numbers have stabilised between 10,000-20,000 individuals (including c.4,000-5,000 breeding pairs⁵) and several colonies are increasing^2,4. The majority of birds breed in the countries of the former Soviet Union (2,700-3,500 pairs)⁸, although the largest colony is at Lake Mikri Prespa, Greece, with nearly 1,000 breeding pairs⁴ and there are around 450 pairs in the Danube Delta¹². The Mongolian population continues to decline and is "almost extinct"¹⁰.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: Behaviour This species is dispersive in Europe, and migratory in Asia¹⁴. It starts to breed in late March or April¹⁴, sometimes solitarily but usually in dense colonies of up to 250 pairs^14,16. Adults form monogamous pair bonds⁷. It departs from the colonies between the end of July and September, although a few remain until November¹⁵. It is gregarious during the winter, often occurring in large flocks and foraging communally and cooperatively in small groups¹⁶, although occasionally singly¹⁶. The birds return to their breeding sites in late-January to April, depending on the region¹⁵. Immature birds and non-breeders may remain in the wintering grounds year round¹⁵, or may stay with the breeding colonies¹⁶. They are often nomadic, especially in the Caspian Sea¹⁵. Habitat It occurs mainly at inland, freshwater wetlands but also at coastal lagoons, river deltas and estuaries^2,7,8,14. Breeding It breeds on small islands in freshwater lakes¹⁴ or in dense aquatic vegetation¹⁴ such as reedbeds of Typha and Phragmites^1,8,9,14 , often in hilly terrain¹⁵. A few breed in Mediterranean coastal lagoons^8,15. The species makes use of habitats surrounding its breeding sites, including nearby islands and wetlands¹⁵. Non-breeding On migration, large lakes form important stop-over sites¹⁵. It typically winters on jheels and lagoons in India, and ice-free lakes in Europe¹⁴. It sometimes fishes inshore along sheltered coasts¹⁴. Diet It feeds almost entirely on fish, especially carp Cyprinus carpio, perch Perca fluviatilis, rudd scardinius erythrophthalmus, roach Rutilus rutilus, and pike Esox lucius in freshwater wetlands¹⁴, and eels, mullet, gobies and shrimps in brackish waters^1,8. In its winter quarters on the Nile it takes mostly Siluridae¹⁵. In the Mikri Prespa breeding colony in Greece it feeds predominantly on the endemic fish species Chalcalburnus belvica¹⁸. Breeding site Most nests are situated amongst aquatic vegetation on floating or stationary islands isolated from the mainland to avoid mammalian predators^{1, 8, 9}. They are occasionally built on open ground^5,6,15. Nests usually consist of a pile of reeds, grass and sticks approximately 1m high and 0.5-1.5m in diameter^14,15. It often tramples the vegetation between nests, and does not tend to nest in areas where such activities would generate deep mud¹⁵. The trampling activity damages the islands and therefore limits the number of years for which an island can be used for breeding¹⁷. On average sites in Greece were found to be used for three years in succession¹⁷. Artificial islands have proved successful as breeding sites in the past⁹.

Threats Former declines were primarily caused by wetland drainage, shooting and persecution by fishers^1,2,7. Continuing threats include disturbance from tourists and fishers, wetland alteration and destruction, water pollution, collision with overhead power-lines and over-exploitation of fish stocks^3,5,7. Organochloride residues including DDT have been recorded in high levels in the eggs of this species and those of its prey¹⁹. Hunting by herders (for traditional use of the bill) continues to threaten the Mongolian population⁷. Nest predation by wild boar at times of low water levels is the most important threat to the Bulgarian breeding colony¹³. The breeding colonies in Mediterranean lagoons in Albania and Turkey are threatened by coastal developments and the alteration of the functioning of the lagoons⁸.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I. CMS Appendix I and II. Conservation efforts have reduced the impact of the major threats in Europe². Marking and dismantling of power-lines², the provision of breeding platforms in Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania and rafts in Greece and Bulgaria, together with wardening⁶, water level management and education programmes at key sites, have reduced mortality and increased breeding success. A European action plan was published in 1996¹².

Conservation measures proposed Monitor breeding, wintering numbers and ecological changes at key sites. Survey potential wintering grounds in central and east Asia. Sustainably manage wetlands. Establish wardened non-intrusion zones around breeding colonies. Bury power-lines or replace with more visible cable. Seek alternatives to traditional use of pelican bills in Mongolia⁶. Legally protect the species and its habitat in range states. Conduct public awareness campaigns and mediate potential conflicts with fishermen. Prevent poaching and overexploitation of fish.

References Crivelli (1996). 1. Crivelli (1994). 2. Crivelli et al. (1997). 3. Crivelli et al. (1999). 4. A. Crivelli in litt. (2003). 5. Hatzilacou (1993). 6. Hatzilacou (1999). 7. Mix and Bräunlich (2000). 8. Peja et al. (1996). 9. Pyrovetsi (1997). 10. S. Chan in litt. (2003). 11. Crivelli et al. (1998). 12. S. Bugariu in litt. (2007). 13. N. Petkov in litt. (2007). 14. del Hoyo et al. (1992). 15. Nelson (2005). 16. Cramp et al. (1977). 17. Catsadorakis and Crivelli (2001). 18. Pyrovetsi and Economidis (1998). 19. Albanis et al. (1995).

Further web sources of information

Action Plan for the Dalmatian Pelican in Europe

Detailed species account from Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status (BirdLife International 2004)

Fully detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001), together with new information collated since the publication of the Red Data Book

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Lucy Malpas (BirdLife International), Nic Peet (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International), Sue Shutes (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Sebastian Bugariu (SOR/BirdLife Romania), Simba Chan (Wild Bird Society of Japan), Alain Crivelli (Pelican Specialist Group), Otto Pfister

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Pelecanus crispus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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