Pink-backed pelican

The pink-backed pelican, a captivating member of the pelican family, is commonly found across Africa, southern Arabia, and southern India. Despite being one of the smaller pelican species, it still boasts an impressive length of 125 to 155 centimeters and a wingspan ranging from 2.15 to 2.9 meters. These birds typically weigh between 4 to 7 kilograms.

Their plumage is a combination of gray and white, accented by a distinctive pinkish hue on their backs, which gives them their name. During the breeding season, they exhibit long feather plumes on their heads, further enhancing their unique appearance.

Pink-backed pelicans favor tranquil environments, often settling in quiet backwaters with shallow waters. They breed in colonies, choosing trees, reeds, or low bushes near water bodies for nesting. These pelicans are social feeders, frequently fishing in groups to catch their primary diet of fish and amphibians.

Regarding reproduction, the female typically lays two to three large white eggs. The chicks have a unique feeding method: they plunge headfirst into the adult's pouch to eat partially digested, regurgitated fish.