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Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
IUCN Red List history
| Year | Category |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Least Concern |
| 2009 | Least Concern |
| 2008 | Least Concern |
| 2004 | Least Concern |
| 2000 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1994 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1988 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
Species attributes
| Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | Does not normally occur in forest |
| Land mass type | Average mass | - |
Distribution
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) | 846,000 | medium |
| Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) | 15,800,000 | medium |
| Number of locations | - | |
| Fragmentation | - |
Population & trend
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of mature individuals | poor | Estimated | 2009 | |
| Population trend | Unknown | - | ||
| Number of subpopulations | - | - | - | |
| Largest subpopulation | - | - | - | |
| Generation length (yrs) | 15.5 | - | - | - |
| Trend justification: The overall population trend is uncertain, as some populations are decreasing, while others are increasing, stable, or have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2006). | ||||
Country/Territory distribution
| Country/Territory | Occurrence status | Extinct | Breeding | Non-breeding | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Albania | Native | No | |||
| Algeria | Vagrant | No | |||
| Angola | Native | No | |||
| Armenia | Native | No | |||
| Austria | Vagrant | No | |||
| Azerbaijan | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Bahrain | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Bangladesh | Native | No | |||
| Belarus | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Benin | Native | No | |||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Native | No | |||
| Botswana | Native | No | |||
| Bulgaria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Burkina Faso | Native | No | |||
| Burundi | Native | No | |||
| Cambodia | Native | No | |||
| Cameroon | Native | No | |||
| Côte d'Ivoire | Native | No | |||
| Central African Republic | Native | No | |||
| Chad | Native | No | |||
| China (mainland) | Native | No | |||
| Congo | Native | No | |||
| Congo, The Democratic Republic of the | Native | No | |||
| Croatia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Cyprus | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Czech Republic | Vagrant | No | |||
| Denmark | Vagrant | No | |||
| Djibouti | Native | No | |||
| Egypt | Native | No | |||
| Eritrea | Native | No | |||
| Ethiopia | Native | No | |||
| Finland | Vagrant | No | |||
| France | Vagrant | No | |||
| Gabon | Native | No | |||
| Gambia | Native | No | |||
| Georgia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Ghana | Native | No | |||
| Greece | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Guinea | Native | No | |||
| Guinea-Bissau | Native | No | |||
| Hungary | Native | Yes | Yes | ||
| India | Native | No | |||
| Indonesia | Native | No | |||
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Iraq | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Israel | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Italy | Native | No | |||
| Japan | Native | No | |||
| Jordan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kazakhstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kenya | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kuwait | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Kyrgyzstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Laos | Native | No | |||
| Latvia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Lebanon | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Libya | Vagrant | No | |||
| Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of | Native | No | |||
| Malawi | Native | No | |||
| Malaysia | Native | No | |||
| Maldives | Vagrant | No | |||
| Mali | Native | No | |||
| Malta | Vagrant | No | |||
| Mauritania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Montenegro | Native | possibly | Yes | ||
| Morocco | Vagrant | No | |||
| Mozambique | Native | No | |||
| Myanmar | Native | No | |||
| Namibia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Nepal | Native | No | |||
| Netherlands | Vagrant | No | |||
| Niger | Native | No | |||
| Nigeria | Native | No | |||
| North Korea | Native | No | |||
| Norway | Vagrant | No | |||
| Oman | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Pakistan | Native | No | |||
| Palestinian Authority Territories | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Poland | Vagrant | No | |||
| Portugal | Vagrant | No | |||
| Romania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (Central Asian) | Native | No | |||
| Russia (European) | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Rwanda | Native | No | |||
| Saudi Arabia | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Senegal | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Serbia | Native | possibly | Yes | ||
| Slovenia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Somalia | Native | No | |||
| South Africa | Native | No | |||
| South Korea | Native | No | |||
| South Sudan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Spain | Vagrant | No | |||
| Sri Lanka | Unknown | No | |||
| Sudan | Native | No | |||
| Swaziland | Vagrant | No | |||
| Switzerland | Vagrant | No | |||
| Syria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Tajikistan | Native | No | |||
| Tanzania | Native | No | |||
| Togo | Native | No | |||
| Tunisia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Turkey | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Turkmenistan | Native | No | |||
| Uganda | Native | No | |||
| Ukraine | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| United Arab Emirates | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Uzbekistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Vietnam | Native | No | |||
| Western Sahara | Vagrant | No | |||
| Yemen | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Zambia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Zimbabwe | Native | No |
Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria
| Country/Territory | IBA Name | IBA link |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Ab-i-Istada |  |
| Afghanistan | Hamun-i-Puzak | |
| Azerbaijan | Sangachal Bay | |
| Botswana | Lake Ngami | |
| Botswana | Makgadikgadi Pans | |
| Botswana | Okavango Delta | |
| Bulgaria | Burgasko Lake | |
| Bulgaria | Mandra-Poda complex | |
| Cameroon | Waza National Park | |
| Egypt | Lake Nasser | |
| Greece | Evros delta | |
| Greece | Lake Kerkini | |
| Greece | Lake Mikri Prespa and Lake Megali Prespa | |
| India | Bardha Dam | |
| India | Saman Bird Sanctuary | |
| India | Sauj Lake | |
| India | Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Arjan Protected Area | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Hamoun-i Sabari and Hamoun-i Hirmand | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Lake Bakhtegan, Lake Tashk and Kamjan marshes | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Lake Uromiyeh | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Nowruzlu and Ghazanlu | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Shur Gol, Yadegarlu and Dorgeh Sangi lakes | |
| Iraq | Bahr Al Milh | |
| Iraq | Central Marshes | |
| Iraq | Haur Al Hammar | |
| Iraq | Haur Al Rayan and Umm Osbah | |
| Israel | Carmel coast | |
| Israel | Hefer valley | |
| Israel | Jezre'el, Harod and Bet She'an valleys | |
| Israel | Judean foothills | |
| Israel | Southern Arava valley and Elat mountains | |
| Israel | Zevulun valley | |
| Kazakhstan | Lesser Aral Sea | |
| Kenya | Lake Elmenteita | |
| Kenya | Lake Nakuru National Park | |
| Kenya | Tana River Delta | |
| Mali | Lac Débo - Lac Oualado Débo | |
| Mali | Séri | |
| Mauritania | Aftout es Sâheli | |
| Mauritania | Banc d'Arguin National Park | |
| Mauritania | Diawling National Park | |
| Namibia | Etosha National Park | |
| Pakistan | Kirthar National Park (including Hub Dam) | |
| Romania | Danube Delta | |
| Romania | Iezerul Călăraşi | |
| Romania | Lake Beibugeac (Plopu) | |
| Romania | Lake Brateş | |
| Romania | Lake Bugeac | |
| Romania | Lake Dunăreni | |
| Romania | Lake Mostiştea | |
| Romania | Lake Oltina | |
| Romania | Lake Siutghiol | |
| Romania | Lake Taşaul | |
| Romania | Măcin - Niculiţel | |
| Romania | Prut river flood-plain - Vlădeşti - Frumuşiţa | |
| Russia (European) | Dadynskiye lakes | |
| Russia (European) | Islands in the western part of Lake Manych-Gudilo | |
| Russia (European) | Lysyi Liman lake and valley of Vostochniy Manych river | |
| Senegal | Djoudj wetlands | |
| Senegal | Kalissaye Avifaunal Reserve | |
| South Africa | Lake St Lucia and Mkuze swamps | |
| South Sudan | Sudd (Bahr-el-Jebel system) | |
| Tanzania | Lake Eyasi | |
| Tanzania | Lake Manyara National Park | |
| Tanzania | Lake Rukwa | |
| Turkey | Aktaş Lake | |
| Turkey | Akşehir and Eber Lakes | |
| Turkey | Bendimahi Delta | |
| Turkey | Burdur Lake | |
| Turkey | Ereğli Plain | |
| Turkey | Kocaçay Delta | |
| Turkey | Kuş Lake / Manyas Lake | |
| Turkey | Seyfe Lake | |
| Turkey | Tuz Lake | |
| Turkey | Uluabat Lake | |
| Turkmenistan | Nargyz | |
| Turkmenistan | Sarygamysh | |
| Uganda | Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake George | |
| Ukraine | Karkinits'ka and Dzharylgats'ka bays | |
| Ukraine | Kytaj lake | |
| Ukraine | River Danube | |
| Ukraine | Sasyk lake | |
| Ukraine | Stentsivs'ko-Zhebriyanivs'ki plavni | |
| Ukraine | Yagorlyts'ka and Tendrivs'ka Bays | |
| Uzbekistan | Akpetky lakes and surrounding Aralkum Desert | |
| Uzbekistan | Ayakaghytma lake and surrounding desert | |
| Uzbekistan | Dzheiran Ecocentre | |
| Uzbekistan | Northern shore of Aydarkul Lake | |
| Uzbekistan | Sudochye Lake | |
| Uzbekistan | Talimarzhan Reservoir | |
| Uzbekistan | Tudakul and Kuymazar Reservoirs | |
| Uzbekistan | Zholdyrbas Lake | |
| Zambia | Kafue Flats | |
| Zambia | Mweru Wantipa National Park | |
Habitats & altitude
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | Mud Flats and Salt Flats | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Macroalgal/Kelp | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Seagrass (Submerged) | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy-Mud | suitable | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands | suitable | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools | major | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools | major | breeding |
| Altitude | 0 - 1372 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
Utilisation
| Purpose | Primary form used | Life stage used | Source | Scale | Level | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pets | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Food (human) | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Pets | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | International | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Sport | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Pelecanus onocrotalus. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013.
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.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Current IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
| Family | Pelecanidae (Pelicans) |
| Species name author | Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Population size | mature individuals |
| Population trend | Unknown |
| Distribution size (breeding/resident) | 846,000 km2 |
| Country endemic? | No |
| Links to further information | |
|
- Summary information on this species - Climate change species distributions | |
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