Australian Pelican
Pelecanus conspicillatus
Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) is a member of the Pelecanidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 5.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Pelecanidae Pelicans
- Genus Pelecanus
- Species conspicillatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.5 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Pelecanidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Australian Pelican hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Australian Pelican is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) is a member of the Pelecanidae family, within the order Pelecaniformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU inland Australia and Tasmania.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 5.5 kg, with a wing length of about 60.2 cm and a tail of around 15.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Australian Pelican?
The Australian Pelican is a very large bird that weighs around 5.5 kg.
Where does the Australian Pelican live?
The Australian Pelican is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU inland Australia and Tasmania, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Australian Pelican belong to?
The Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) belongs to the Pelecanidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Australian Pelican eat?
The Australian Pelican hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Australian Pelican migrate?
The Australian Pelican is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Australian Pelican endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Australian Pelican make?
1 real field recording of the Australian Pelican — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Australian Pelican's range?
The Australian Pelican has a mapped global range of about 5.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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